There is trouble at sea…
“Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only 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.” (Acts 27:21-25 ESV)
There is trouble on the island…
“It happened that the father of Pulius lay sick with fever and dysentary. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They also honored us greatly, when we were about to said, they put on board whatever we needed.” (Acts 28:8-10 ESV)
There was trouble in Rome…
“And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: Go to the people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” (Acts 28:25-29 ESV)
There was trouble in each of these scenarios that Paul was in. But through each of them he demonstrated bold faith that got him through adversity and created a beautiful witness for others to see. May we all take his example and run with it ourselves.
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7b ESV)
~Kellie
Sixty-six books in a year 