“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” - Rom 8:37 (NIV)

The storm had now passed. But the ship was much damaged. Paul, the prisoner, who was being taken to stand trial before Ceaser in Rome, on his last missionary journey, decided to lift up the weary spirits of all. “Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head” (Acts 27:33-34).

One of the defining characteristics of any life is how it reacts to a storm. Needless to say we are living in days of storms from the ravages of a pandemic. It has left many lives on edge, jobs lost, finances in tatters, relationships once strong but now scattered.

For many when faced with a storm they can lose hope. Some start cursing God just as one of Jobs wife urged him after he lost everything. “His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).

When everything is down people need to find hope. Christians whose faith is rooted in Christ do rise to the occasion for unlike others they have a hope in God that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). They know that whatever trials there are facing there are but temporary. They stand above collected with a shining faith, steadfast with praise.

As we earlier showed Paul was a man who had seen God work supremely in his life before that in the midst of a shipwreck he was not as ruffled as the rest were. Paul, the prisoner, was now the anchor of hope. Earlier in his life a jailer had been so shaken seeing how God had set loose his chains that he asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Here again all around including the ship captain and centurion decided to turn to the same prisoner, Paul, for comfort and hope. “After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged” (verse 35- 36).

Christians are not immune to life’s storms as the life of Paul clearly shows. What distinguishes them is the grace to bear all circumstances with hope. If you are going through a storm may your faith rise above it knowing that God will come through as He has done before, and will for evermore.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God, creator of heaven and earth, on these seas of life where storms come, I look up to you, knowing you will rescue me, that I need not worry, because you are the Almighty God, ever in control, and I shall be triumphant, to the glory of your son, Jesus Christ!