Devotional:Take Courage: Acts 27:13-26

“Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship” (Acts 27:22, NASB).

The violent storm is raging. It seems like there will be a great loss of cargo and likely the life of those on board the ship. The soldiers are frantic. They throw cargo over board. They use supporting cables to undergird the ship. The sailors work continuously for days; going without food hoping to save the ship, but still, all seems loss.

Paul, the man of God is on the ship. He warns them not to sail at this time, but his warning is voted down by the sailors and the soldiers on board. Now, they are in a storm. They cannot control the storm, the raging winds and the pouring rain. Everything is out of control and there is nothing more that can be done to save the ship and the lives of those on board. “Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us; from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned” (v. 20).

While everyone else is hungry, feeling hopeless and scared out of their wits, the man of God calmly speaks up. “Men you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Fair Havens. You would have avoided all this injury and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down” (vv. 21-22, NLT). Take courage! What does that mean?

Courage is the state of mind or spirit that enables one to have boldness and confidence in the face of danger. It is having every reason to be afraid and at the same time face the danger with confidence that somehow you will overcome the danger; and you will be saved from the potential harm that stands before you.

In life, we often find ourselves in a storm. Sometimes we are in a storm because of our own decisions and actions. Sometimes we are in a storm because of the decisions and the actions of other people that have more control over the situation than we do. Often, we find ourselves in a storm that cannot be explained and avoided. There is every reason to be afraid, yet we can take courage. When we have done all that we are able to do, we can still take courage.

When we take courage this does not mean that we are in denial. We know that the storm is real. We know that the storm can hurt and kill us. How then can we take courage? Paul says, “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you” (vv. 23-24, NASB). I can have courage because God knows my location and my circumstances. God has a purpose for my life. There is something that God calls and destines for me to do. The storm will rage, but God will save me in the storm.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, speak to our hearts words of assurance so that we might take courage. Amen.