"MAN OVERBOARD!" (
Acts 27:31)
Life is not fair. You will have problems, difficulties, and hurts that will make you better or bitter. You will either grow up or give up. Either you'll become who God wants you to be or your heart will become hard. You have to decide how you are going to respond to the tough times in your life. How will you handle it?
Humanly speaking, all hope of being saved was gone. Therefore, Paul instruc
ted all the passengers not to fear, but to have good courage. Now, let them listen to the good news Paul had for them. An angel of God had appeared to Paul in the night, assuring him that all the passengers would be saved from the ravages of this storm. This was because God was protecting Paul, who must stand before Caesar. It was because of Paul that his shipmates as well would survive the storm. No life would be lost, but only the ship, which would run aground on some island. Paul's shipmates should be encouraged by Paul's faith in God, trusting that what God had promised, He would do.
When you go through those difficult times, what happens to you is not nearly as important as what happens in you. That's what you take into eternity - not the circumstances but your character. Yes, we will be saved, even on the broken pieces of our lives (v. 44). -- USK
