Thursday's Devo - Triumph Through Your Storm

Read: Acts 27
We see how Paul gains respect as a prophet of God. He tries to warn the centurion in vs 10 of what God has showed him would happen but the centurion decided to take the advise of the head sailor. I imagine the weather was fair without a cloud in the sky but God was setting the centurion up to do His purpose, which was to save Paul's life. Sure enough, the storm hits and try as they might, they could not land the ship on any of the islands they passed. Finally they are driven out to sea. After many days they start throwing things over the ship. Isn't that what we do when we are in a trial. The trivial things or of no use or importance. We only hold on to the things that give us life. Time goes by in darkness and everyone has time to contemplate life and death and the future....if there is one. Paul waits till then, when they are totally humbled, to speak. He reminds them of his warning that this would happen.
And since he was right about that, they figure he might be right about the next thing he is about to tell them. He tells them to not worry he has good news. Who doesn't want to hear that at a time like this. An angel had appeared to Paul that night and told him that Paul and all the men with him would make it to Rome, but first they would be cast upon an island. On the 14th night they realized they were getting closer and closer to land. There were huge rocks in the water and the shipmen started to get into a life boat and go ashore to save their own lives until Paul saw them and told the centurion that if they didn't get back into the boat the people left would not be saved. By this time the centurion believed Paul's words and commanded them back into the boat. (Sometimes what looks like the quick answer to get out of your trial is the very thing that will make your trial longer. The only way through is to ask God's guidance.)
Finally the ship broke in half and those who could swim, swam ashore and the others floated on boards from the ship. All were saved and all Paul's words had come true. May we, like Paul, triumph in our trials through God's word to us.