Acts 27, Survival Through the Storm

Growing up on the coast, I’ve always been fascinated by anything nautical. I moved away from that area, but my Daddy was still there. So, we would go about  three times a year to see him and go to the beach, along with our yearly family vacation. Since my Daddy passed away almost two years ago, we’ve only been once on our family trip. I miss my quiet walks with God on the beach. I know God is with me wherever I am but there’s nothing like the beach to put you in prospective with God. The beach’s massiveness and beauty can really help you see His massiveness and beauty. And, growing up going to the beach, I’ve also seen its rage. I’ve been in hurricanes, seen tornadoes, waterspouts, and undertows as well as the marine creatures of all kinds, good and harmful.

I also love all stories about the beaches, true and fiction. One story I have always been fascinated with is about the Titanic’s sinking in 1912. A man named Colonel Archibald Gracie was one of the few survivors. After his survival, he tells of the enjoyment the ship offered as well as the incredible feats of heroism of assisting women and children into lifeboats as the shipwrecked and sank in his book, The Truth About the Titanic. He also recounts his story of jumping into the cold water, praying, and receiving the strength to do what he did to survive. But what I love even more about Colonel Gracie’s story is what transpired at his home in New York City. His wife was feeling an unease as never before that same night and couldn’t sleep so she went to open her prayer book and it fell open to the prayer titled “For Those at Sea.” She prayed and then fell asleep being awakened the next morning to the news that the Titanic had sank. God worked a miracle that night in the survival of Colonel Archibald Gracie!

There’s another story about survival from a great storm found in Acts 27. Verses 18-25 tell of Paul on his way to Italy as a prisoner on a ship. They had been on the ship for several days without any relief from the storm, but Paul never gave up his faith in God, just like the Gracie’s. Verse 23 tells of Paul explaining to the ship’s captain and crew, who were ready to make Paul “walk the plank,” that an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him there would be no loss of life through this storm and they would all survive. Paul believed God and what the angel said when he had every reason to fear for his life. He never gave up! Colonel Gracie never gave up!           

We have the same promise from God that He will provide survival to us through the storm! We can be strong like Colonel Gracie and Paul to never give up no matter what our storm is.