Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.”
Acts 27:22-24

In the eyes of the world, Paul was a nobody. He was one of a group of nameless prisoners being transported across the Mediterranean to Rome. The ship was large: counting passengers, crew, soldiers and prisoners, there were 276 people on board.

But now, for two weeks straight, they had been driven by a storm, unable to see the sun, with no hope of reaching the harbor they had hoped for. They had given up all hope of saving the ship. They had long since jettisoned the cargo and even the ship’s tackle. All was lost, so far as anyone could see. The ship itself was coming apart.

But Paul was on board, and two friends who had been given permission to accompany him, Luke and Aristarchus. Paul knew that God was sending him to Rome and had arranged for him to get there at government expense. He continued in faithful prayer, trusting that God’s plan and purpose would be accomplished, in spite of all appearances.

The people on board that ship had no idea of the power of prayer that was going on in their midst. They were each occupied with their own business, and now with their own fears. They had lost everything but their lives, and survival was unlikely.

Then God told Paul he had been granted a special favor; all 276 people would make it safely to shore, just because Paul and his two friends were there on board, and praying.

Dear Christian, understand this! God has placed you in whatever place you find yourself, as a preservative. He is listening to your prayers and because you are there, praying, being faithful to His purpose even as the world around you is coming apart, the people around you are blessed in ways they don’t know and probably wouldn’t believe if you told them. God’s loving purpose will be accomplished. Trust Him, stay faithful, and wait to see what He is about to do.

Lord, I know that Your loving purpose will be accomplished in my life, and that nothing can touch me without Your permission. I don’t know what You have in mind, and it looks like things are falling apart, but I trust You. I believe Your Word, and I’m waiting for You to bring about Your good purpose, through it all.
Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles