Acts 27.1-28.10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2027-Acts%2028.10;&version=51;&interface=print

'Tis the story of Paul's voyage(s) en route to Rome. . . What could be Luke's purpose in writing in such detail about Paul's tumultuous journey?

Have you been in a storm lately? Probably not if you live in Southern California--we have earthquakes and fires. . . but you could have been where storms whip themselves up into tornadoes. . . storms caused by elements of nature. This was the kind of storm that shipwrecked Paul. A PERFECT STORM. Since the 2000 movie by the same name, the phrase has gained popularity and grown to mean any event where a combination of circumstances aggravate a situation drastically. Wikipedia

Then, there is the storm that hits and threatens to take us out in other ways--through hardship, trial, serious illness and the like. . . Either way, storms are a drag to be caught in. I should like to take a moment to compare and contrast the two, and ask the question, "Is there anything valuable to come from the storm?"

The first storm comes through natural forces, and usually affects many people, not just a single individual. While some people have the view that once they become Christians, bad things will not happen to them, this is untrue as we see that Paul endured three different shipwrecks caused by storms! Christians are not immune from calamity or natural disasters. However, these do provide us opportunities to really trust in God, and thereby strengthen the faith of those around us; in addition, these calamaties provide opportunities for us to serve others, rather than just focusing on ourselves. As believers, we must rest ourselves on the mountain of God's goodness--God is either good all the time, or He isn't good at all. Which is it? When we trust that God's heart toward us is good, we can say like Job, "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. . . blessed be the name of the Lord... yet though he slay me, still I will trust Him." We can cry out to Him for a rescue. . . "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed." ( Psalm 107.28.29) But we have hope, faith, trust---no matter the storm.

Paul was a prisoner of Rome as he was shipwrecked, and yet he became the voice of calm and reason to the passengers and crew. The rest of the men on the ship had lost all hope--not Paul. Having no faith, they had no one to turn to; God used that to clarify their values. Storms of either kind have a way of doing that, don't they? In a storm, we quickly determine what is most important, and what is not. Priorities rise to the surface quickly.

A storm oftentimes has value in it. It has a way of revealing character, or the lack of it. No matter the severity of the storm, God is sovereign, and He will accomplish his purposes. God has a purpose for the storms in our lives--though they may try our faith, God is always at work. We may think of being at peace as the opposite of being in a storm; I'm not sure that is true. Peace does not mean 'to be in a place where there is no trouble, turmoil or racket'; rather, it means 'being in the midst of all those things, and still being calm in your heart'. Ah. . . now that is peace. As someone said, "The storms of our life prove the strength of our anchor." Paul knew the strength of his anchor.

Whether or not good can come from a storm probably depends on you. Even as you go through any storm, ask yourself at the time what you will take from the experience--what wisdom you will have gained, what you will be able to use to help or encourage others. The greatest storm in my personal life stands as a milestone which will forever mark a spiritual turning point toward a greater faith in my God. I should not wish it on you, but I would not trade it for the world either! Yes, it was for me, a combination of circumstances that caused a PERFECT STORM. One thing I know. . . my anchor holds. Christine