Shipwreck journal (3)

Paul's voyage to Italy had taken another turn for the worst. When the storm kept raging, the sailors gave up on hope. And when we throw out hope, we're done. The power of hope keeps people going.

But (and this is a pretty significant 'but')... when the Bible talks about 'hope', it's not talking about hope in luck or chance or accident. What it's talking about is focused faith in a strong, saviour God. Here are two significant Bible passages: 'Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord' (Psalm 31:24 NIV); and 'The eyes of the Lord are on those... whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name' (Psalm 33:18-21 NIV).

Are we wrestling with an issue that's throwing us back and forth? Have we come to the point where we've thrown things out, and now we're in despair? The sailors on Paul's ship gave up because they didn't know that God was in control, and that he can inject hope into any seemingly hopeless situation. But Paul knew. His hope wasn't in the idea that he'd weather this storm: it was that his strong God was in control of the storm, and so all would turn out well.



So what now? Read through Acts 27 again. Take note of Paul's reactions. Make those reactions your goal.





— SCRIPTURE —

'We finally gave up all hope.' Acts 27:20 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Zech 7-8, Mark 14:27-31, Ps 19, Pro 24:19-22