Sometimes You Have To Run Aground

It sure wasn't a pleasure cruise.

No all-you-can-eat buffet.

No private cabin.

Just meager rations and chains.

But it was an adventure.

You'll find the story of the Apostle Paul heading for Rome in Acts Chapter 27.

It really makes for good reading.

And deep thinking.

The ship, caught in a horrible storm, had more than 200 passengers on board.

They all thought they were going to die.

Paul stands up at the worst moment for them and has a message to deliver:

Acts 27:22-26 (ESV) "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.'

So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we MUST RUN AGROUND ON SOME ISLAND."

Believe it or not, we'll survive this guys.

But we'll still have to deal with some stuff.

The outcome is sure.

It's the in-between time that gets dicey.

Isn't that true for us too?

God promises to be with us in the storm.

When the ship is breaking up we hang onto Him the best we know how.

The great rescue is certain.

But we may still have to run aground in a place not of our choosing.

An isolated and strange place.

We'll be battered and bruised as we get our wits about us.

And then suddenly we'll see it.

Smooth sailing isn't what the Christian life is all about.

It's trusting God when contrary winds blow.

What does that look like?

A rainbow in the clouds.

A diamond displayed on black velvet.

A life preserved even though you run aground.

Acts 27:43-44 (ESV) " The Centurion ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land."

You'll make it.

You really will.