God Will See You Through.

I don't know how many of you have felt you've been shipwrecked or caught in a storm, but I believe many of us have felt abandoned on an island like Paul. Before Paul was shipwrecked on Malta, he was in a violent storm and had no control over his circumstances. He must have felt abandoned, toss about, forgotten at times. We have all felt this way. Maybe you are in a storm right now. Maybe you feel shipwrecked on an island yourself and no one knows.

I'm here to encourage you today and say that even in the middle of your mess; and while your boat may be getting tossed about by the waves, and your boat may be controlled by the winds, but I want to remind that our God is in control of the winds!! He calms the seas so put your trust not in the winds but in the Master of the winds. Let Him calm your seas. He wants you to pray like Paul, and trust in Him, and not to rely in on our own wisdom or skills. But it is equally wrong to sit and do nothing when there are still actions we can take to overcome certain problems. Do all that you can to fix the problem then trust God to do his part. God works for Paul's good and you can trust him to do the same for you. God may not make you comfortable or secure but HE will provide the opportunity to do what you can. He has not forgotten you or abandoned you. Our lives are in God's hands and we must continue on believing in good faith, God has you!!!! HE will bring you safe to shore and protect you always!

Scripture Acts 27:27-44
The Shipwreck

27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria,* the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.* 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—37 all 276 of us who were on board. 38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship.* So everyone escaped safely to shore