Act 27 -- A Blog in 28 Acts

Weathering the Storm

Most of us will never experience anything so catastrophic as a shipwreck….or will we? I’ve never been on a ship at sea, but in my life I’ve encountered the perfect storm a few times. I’ve felt the waves of anxiety and fear and hopelessness come crashing across my bow and found myself reeling, just trying to stay afloat in deep water, “like a cork in the storm” (v. 15).  Haven't you? Acts 27 (read it here) has some lessons for how to make decisions in the middle of the storms of life:

• Dump the Cargo Overboard (vv. 18-20) - The storms of life force us to decide what's important. What are the real priorities in life? In crisis mode, everything else is dead weight. Survive the storm by jettisoning the unnecessary. For me, the priorities are God, family, and other close relationships. What are the priorities for you? I know I don't live every day in a way that reflects my priorities. Will it take a storm help me rediscover them?

• Don't Give Up Hope (vv. 21-26) -- Paul says, "Hey, you really blew it when you didn't listen to me. But don't dwell on that. Things will be looking up soon!" Who is the Paul in your life who can cast a vision for the future that gives you hope?

• Throw Out the Anchors and Pray for Daylight (vv. 27-29) -- Sometimes the best thing to do is to stop reaching around in the dark for a solution, to anchor yourself for a while, and to pray for insight and clarity about what to do next. It takes courage and patience to stand still and wait in the darkness. And prayer can help us with both the courage and the patience to wait it out.

• Don't Jump Ship (vv. 30-32) -- Jumping ship won't be good for you or for anybody else. Don't give up, and find someone to encourage you and help you be accountable to finding a solution instead of running away from the problem.

• EAT! (vv. 33-38) -- (Paul and my mother have something in common on this one!) Take care of yourself. Thank God for what you have and enjoy it. Share it with others. But remember that the things that are fulfilling in this life are only temporary -- and it all gets thrown overboard in the end.

• Take the Risk to Make a Landing (vv. 39-44) -- Maybe it's starting to seem a lot safer on the ship than in the shark-infested waters between the ship and the "land" in the distance (that could turn out to be a mirage after all).  When the insight you're praying for finally comes, it's not likely to look like a blinking neon light. It's more likely to be the still small voice...the land no one recognizes in v. 39. The anchors aren't supposed to be forever. The ship isn't either. Cut the anchors, put your sails to the wind, and head for the land. You might hit a reef, but you can't move toward what God has in store for you if you never raise anchor.

The story has a happy ending. Everyone makes it to shore alive. None are lost. Our endings are rarely so perfect. But imperfect endings make strategies for dealing with the storms of life all the more important.

Kim

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day.  Be sure to join us in reading this entire book.  We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.