In The Storm

You're listening to the My Morning Devotional podcast, episode 1540. Today's Devo is called in the Storm. Hey there. We're the Alessies, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time. That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional podcast. Well, welcome back. And it's our final episode on this week of the Book of Acts. We made it to the end of Acts. If you thought we weren't going to get there, we finally got there and we've made it to the end of the week as well. So I just hope this has been a blessing. I also hope that it's maybe opened up and exposed some areas in our lives that maybe we got to trust God more or maybe places that in places that we have to point to Jesus more. Whatever it is, I hope it blessed you. And in this episode, we're going to finish out the Book of Acts and we're really going to look at Acts, chapter 27. But 2728 is the final moment with Paul. And this is where we see that he gets stuck in a storm, he is shipwrecked, and then he is on the island of Malta. And this is such a. This is such a cool story. You can also go and even visit the sites. So if you are interested in the story of Paul, do some studies, you can even look at where he would have been shipwrecked, all those fun things. And then if you're ever given the opportunity, you can actually go and travel and do the footsteps of Paul and see all of this. My sister and I did this about two years ago, three years ago now, and it changed our lives. So let's jump into this. Chapter 27. Paul aboards a ship to literally go and meet people to find for his sentence and to go stand before someone else. And a storm hits. And then now they're having to figure out what's going on and what to do. And in verse 23 it says this. This is Paul speaking. Last night, an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar. And God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. So keep up your courage, men. This is Paul speaking to the men. Keep up your courage, for I have faith. In God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island. So what's happening here? The context is this. He's on a boat setting sail with other men. They're not believers, other men to now go stand before Caesar in the middle of that sail. And while they're on the water and a storm hits them. And what's beautiful is that God meets Paul in the middle of the storm. And what does he say to them? Don't be afraid, he said, you must stand trial before Caesar. And God has graciously, graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. You see, God didn't pick up Saul and bring him on dry ground. He didn't intervene, send an angel of the Lord to take him out of the storm. No, he strengthened him in the storm. And God gave Paul the courage and the confidence to make a plan out of the storm, a way to get out so that he can go and stand before Caesar. Guys, I don't know about you, but what I'm realizing in this whole entire story with Paul is that God had a plan for Paul to go stand in front of all those people. God orchestrated it. We might read this and go, man, Paul had to stand before this person, and then he was shipped over to that person, and then he had to go and talk to that person. And it might look like just sentence him already, you know, just end it. Just bring it to completion. Just give Paul some assurance. Just give him some peace. My goodness. He has to keep fending for himself and fighting for his life. But every single moment and every time the Lord spoke to him, God kept saying, paul, you're right where you are. Paul, I need you to go stand before this person. Earlier, he said, paul, like you spoke in Jerusalem, I need you to speak in Rome. Paul, I need you to stand before Caesar. Paul, I need you to stand before King Agrippa. It was moments that God ordained for Paul to speak. Speak about life, speak about Jesus, speak about his conversion and the freedom that he found in the Lord. God orchestrated that. And even in the storm, God orchestrated it and intervened and said, paul, you are still in the perfect place. Don't be afraid. He even said, you are with people. You are blessed by the people that are in the boat with you. And Paul receives this message and he says, all right, we gotta run this aground. We gotta take this. Basically, this is where you hear about the shipwreck, that Paul was shipwrecked. But even in the shipwreck, it was a part Of God's plan. Even the storm was in God's plan. So what does that teach us? God's never going to take us out of the storm, but he will sustain us and strengthen us through the storm. The storm is from the Lord. God allowed the storm. The shipwreck is from the Lord. He allows the shipwreck. But what God also allows is for his grace and his favor to come upon you in the midst of that storm, to endure it. I want to challenge you right now. I'm speaking to people that are in a storm. God has you exactly where you need to be. God is giving you everything that you need to endure the storm. Why? Because at the end of the storm, you're going to come out stronger, you're going to come out with an endurance, you're going to come out being more confident, and you're going to come out with a greater faith in who the Lord is. There are things that you can take away from the storm. There are lessons that we will not be able to receive or understand or learn if it wasn't for the storms of our lives. You see, God's presence doesn't eliminate storms, but it carries you through them. Paul endured a violent storm and a shipwreck. Yet in the middle of chaos, he brought. He brings calm. He brought leadership. He. He led those men and he brought hope, the hope of Jesus Christ. Why? Because he trusted God's promise. He trusted in the Lord. When the Lord said, don't be afraid, he wasn't afraid. See, storms are a part of life. But the thing with storms is they don't define your future, but storms refine your future. What does that mean? The storm is not the end, but the storm will strengthen you for what's to come. So they don't define you, but they refine you. And here's what's beautiful. God defines your future. God orders your steps. And just like he did with Paul in the good times, but even in the bad times, God has ordered your steps and God has planned your future. He holds it all in the palm of his hand. So if you're in a storm today, understand that God is with you and he's giving everything. He's giving you everything that you need to endure the storm and to come out stronger in the end. So my question for you is this. What storm are you in right now? What storm are you in? Is it a relational storm? Is it a financial storm? Is it a health storm? What does your storm look like? And then secondly, who's leading you? Is it fear? Or is it faith? And let faith lead you out of that storm. Come on, let's pray. Father, we just thank you. We thank you that you care about us, Lord, so much that you order our steps. God, you could leave us out here on our own and just let us figure it out, but you don't. God, you see us, you value us, you love us and you have a plan for us. And I just thank you for it. Lord, I pray for the storm that people might be going through right now, all of our listeners, whatever that storm looks like. God, I pray that you give them the strength and the endurance to get through the storm. I pray that they focus on your voice and not the voices of the storm raging around them. Let them seek out your voice in this storm, God, because there is something that you are wanting to give them and refine in them during this season. So show it to them, Lord, illuminate it to them, God, and I pray that you give them grace and favor in this season. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. So there you have it. Your 5 minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend, leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow, we pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.