Back in Acts 21 and 22, we read about Paul walking into suffering not in fear but in complete trust as He followed where God was leading. This idea of peace in suffering is continued in Acts 27 and 28 as we see Paul endure threatening circumstances with peace instead of panic.
In chapter 27, Paul and several other travelers endure an arduous journey on a ship during a violent storm. After many days, Acts 27:20 tells us that "all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned." But then Paul stands up and urges them all to remain courageous because an angel of God had told him to not be afraid, that there would be no loss of life. Only the ship would be lost.
But when more days pass with no end in sight, the crew of the boat again begins to panic, trying to quietly escape and leaving the passengers on board. Paul encourages them to stay aboard and to stop to eat, as they had gone two weeks without eating anything, constantly worrying and watching.
Paul's tone is one of comfort and peace amidst a literal storm and among people around him consumed with stress, worry and panic.
Wouldn't it be a happy ending if the sun came out and the winds died down and they smoothly sailed the rest of the way to Rome? But that wasn't the case. The ship struck a reef and broke apart, leaving the passengers to swim or hang onto a wooden plank until they reached the shore.
A violent, fourteen day storm followed by a terrifying shipwreck seems like it should be enough suffering for a little while. But more comes when they reach land and Paul is bitten by a viper while laying wood on a fire.
The natives of the island assume he is a murderer...that this bite was repayment for something he had done. Karma, as many would say. They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But Paul? He didn't panic. He didn't assume the worst. He just shook the viper off into the fire and suffered no harm.
Once again, Paul faces hardship without panicking but instead trusting fully that God was leading Him on a journey and that He would be faithful to complete it. This doesn't mean the journey was fun and enjoyable and that the difficulties were no big deal. Suffering is real and it is painful. But Paul was unwavering in his trust. And that gave him hope. We, too, have hope. Because we, too, have a God who is leading us on a journey and He is always faithful to complete it.
So, in the face of pain and suffering, we can walk in peace and trust. Not denying the reality of our pain, not quenching the desire to cry out to God to take it away. But standing on God's promises and fully trusting that He is good and faithful whether He changes our circumstances or if He asks us to continue walking through them.
Sidenote: When we do this, when we grieve and suffer with hope and peace, the world sees it. And those around us are intrigued and encouraged. After my father-in-law passed away this past spring, a family member came to the funeral and was shocked by the peace and hope we had in the face of the pain and death. She went home, walked into church for the first time, heard the gospel, accepted Christ and was baptized. Her story is here. May you be encouraged.
But when more days pass with no end in sight, the crew of the boat again begins to panic, trying to quietly escape and leaving the passengers on board. Paul encourages them to stay aboard and to stop to eat, as they had gone two weeks without eating anything, constantly worrying and watching.
Paul's tone is one of comfort and peace amidst a literal storm and among people around him consumed with stress, worry and panic.
"Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food." Acts 27:35-36
Wouldn't it be a happy ending if the sun came out and the winds died down and they smoothly sailed the rest of the way to Rome? But that wasn't the case. The ship struck a reef and broke apart, leaving the passengers to swim or hang onto a wooden plank until they reached the shore.
A violent, fourteen day storm followed by a terrifying shipwreck seems like it should be enough suffering for a little while. But more comes when they reach land and Paul is bitten by a viper while laying wood on a fire.
The natives of the island assume he is a murderer...that this bite was repayment for something he had done. Karma, as many would say. They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But Paul? He didn't panic. He didn't assume the worst. He just shook the viper off into the fire and suffered no harm.
Once again, Paul faces hardship without panicking but instead trusting fully that God was leading Him on a journey and that He would be faithful to complete it. This doesn't mean the journey was fun and enjoyable and that the difficulties were no big deal. Suffering is real and it is painful. But Paul was unwavering in his trust. And that gave him hope. We, too, have hope. Because we, too, have a God who is leading us on a journey and He is always faithful to complete it.
So, in the face of pain and suffering, we can walk in peace and trust. Not denying the reality of our pain, not quenching the desire to cry out to God to take it away. But standing on God's promises and fully trusting that He is good and faithful whether He changes our circumstances or if He asks us to continue walking through them.
Sidenote: When we do this, when we grieve and suffer with hope and peace, the world sees it. And those around us are intrigued and encouraged. After my father-in-law passed away this past spring, a family member came to the funeral and was shocked by the peace and hope we had in the face of the pain and death. She went home, walked into church for the first time, heard the gospel, accepted Christ and was baptized. Her story is here. May you be encouraged.
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