Been through, or going through any storms in your life?
In these passages we are told about one of those times when Paul was going through a storm, as a prisoner, nonetheless.

In verse 10 we see Paul's warning of pending doom in this voyage is ignored by Julius, the centurion.  Even though Julius did give Paul certain privileges that weren't granted to others, he nevertheless allowed himself to be persuaded by the "logical reasoning" of  the "experts".

So in our lives we are constantly warned by the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us.  "Don't do that!" "Stay away from there!" Yet, we sometimes perceive these warnings to be doubts instead of what they really are: God, who can see the end of the road in this particular voyage, warning us to stay away.  Yet we let our minds, and hearts, entertain these thoughts and rationalize them.  We even let our "friends" persuade us.  "What do you think of  this or that?", we ask. Even though "something" inside us (the Holy Spirit) is warning us against it, we chose to ignore the  warning. Remember, God will guide us in the direction we should go, yet He will not violate our FREE WILL. 

Enter the storm.  The seas get rough during our voyage and starts throwing our ship about.  Here we get to know who our real "friends" are.  Do they come and help us in our time of trouble, or do they decide to leave us alone in the storm and save themselves, as we see the sailors in verse 30 doing?  Remember: these were the same men that persuaded the centurion to set sail.  "Ignore that warning!  We'll be fine!"  We hit the storm, they help us unload a little bit of baggage to stay afloat, but when that doesn't seem to be working, they choose to let us make it on our own.

Once we're in that situation, we can either try and steer our boat in the direction we think it should go, or just "let go and let God" handle it.  Remember God?  The Alpha and Omega? The Beginning and the End?  Are we to attempt to steer our ship blindly during this storm, or depend on God, who sees and knows all, to take over the helm? 

In verse 44 Paul states: "and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship.  And so it was that they all escaped safely to land."  God will get us safely to land.  We may arrive there shipwrecked, floating on some shattered pieces, but nevertheless, safe.   Once safely on land although shipwrecked, God will build us up again.  Right from the bottom up, as the men would do with their boat.  If they are to set sail again, they must rebuild their ship.  God does the same thing with us.  He restores us, from the ground up and gets us ready for another journey!

Father, I come to You in Jesus' name pleading that You remind me to trust in You during the storm.  I thank You that You are there to take over the rudder when I decide to let go during my storm and put my trust in You.  Father, I know that on every voyage I may encounter a new storm, but it is well, for You are at the helm of my ship.   Even though a storm may leave me shipwrecked and in pieces, it is well, for You are a God of restoration.  You will build this ship up and get it ready for another voyage.  I don't have to worry about trying to pick up the pieces, for You will make me new from scratch!  Thank You for Your grace upon my life, and Your mercies, which like my ship, are renewed everyday! In Jesus' name, amen.

YBIC,
Joe.