Stay in the Boat

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. (Acts 27:21-24)

Paul was caught in a fierce storm, so intense that God revealed to him that the ship would be destroyed, but the people would be saved, and Paul’s purpose would still be fulfilled. The boat was just a vessel; it was not God’s overall vision. It was there to carry him for a season. When the ship broke apart, it didn’t undo what God was doing with Paul. You can lose your job and still move forward in faith because the job was simply a means, not the mission itself. Losing the ship wasn’t the loss of the mission.

But here’s an important point: Paul made a prophetic statement that no one should abandon ship prematurely. The only way to survive and fulfill God’s will is to stay until God signals it's time to go. Too many believers see a problem at their job, get annoyed by a minor issue in their church, or have a disagreement with a friend, and they “jump ship” before God gives the okay. In every storm, there’s a temptation to escape too soon. Obeying God means not fleeing when you feel like it.

It took fourteen days of faithfulness from Paul before the angel's message arrived. Paul wasn’t just waiting silently; he was praying in the Spirit, as he always did. Waiting isn’t wasted time; it’s listening time. It’s time to seek God and focus on what He’s directing you to do right now.

Practical Application

When Paul was in the storm and everyone said they would die, he spoke in faith. Speak faith even when others choose to speak only fear. Your supernatural joy during the storm shows that you trust and follow God.

Acts 23:11; Matthew 10:18