By Tim Seevers

Several years ago I was 12 miles out on Lake Erie with a few friends on a chartered fishing boat. It was a small vessel and we were being tossed around by the waves. After several hours of fishing, a storm came up quickly and we began our journey back to shore. The waves were intense, the wind strong, and it seemed like we would never reach shore. The small vessel was being battered by the waves. Fear gripped each of us as we thought we were going down.

Paul and 275 other passengers probably felt the same way. They were being battered by winds of hurricane force. They feared the vessel would be torn apart.

God Is in Control

Against their helplessness was the hand of God. Paul had received a promise that he would testify in Rome and God would keep that promise. An angel appeared to Paul and told him not to be afraid because God would allow him to stand trial before Caesar. One of the greatest blessings we can enjoy as Christians is to know God is in control. 

No matter what storm we are facing we do not have to be afraid. When things seem out of control in our lives, they are never out of God’s control. He allowed the vessel to drift off course so he could prove he was in control of the situation. Our responsibility in life’s storms is to trust that God cares for us, provides for us, and will deliver us. To trust the God who is in control means that we will respond differently to life’s storms than those who are in the world.

God Will Deliver

The time of deliverance came when they obeyed. Not one hair on their heads was harmed. When God delivers us, he delivers us completely. He doesn’t allow the storm to harm us. Even when the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners, God delivered. Even when some of them couldn’t swim, God delivered. God takes us where we are in the storm, calms our fears, and delivers us. He always does.

Tim Seevers is the senior minister of the Sherman Church of Christ in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. He and his wife, Peggy, have three adult children and six grandchildren.