In the Midst of the Storm

“When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so, they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (Acts 27:13-20)

In the midst of life’s storms, check your compasses!

1. Take time to pause, catch your bearings, recalculate your path according to God’s call on your life!

Pray for His guidance through this season.

God never allows anything to happen without a very good reason. Storms have a purpose.

1. How can you begin to lighten your load in order to hear God more clearly and obey Him more fully?

Although we can’t avoid storms, we can find course settings and navigational coordinates to help us through the storms.

Three course settings that will help:

1. Storms will test what’s in your heart.

Two options:

1. We can rationalize our character flaws.
2. We can repent and be transformed.

• Be clear to the core!
• Be transformed by the Spirit of God.
• There’s a difference between being changed and transformed.

1. Storms compel us to depend on God.

Jesus is all we need when Jesus is all we’ve got.

“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” (Acts 23:11)

“Last night an angel of the God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar…’” (Acts 27:23-24)

1. In the midst of the storm, God reminds us of our original call.

When God gives you a call, everything else is secondary.

Allow the Lord to remind you of what your call is.

“Where you are is not who you are.”

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jer. 29:11)