Acts 27
ScriptureActs 27:20b, 23-2420b…we finally gave up all hope of being saved.23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’Observation - What does it say?On his way to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners found themselves stuck on a ship in the middle of a terrible storm. The storm lasted for days with no break in the clouds, and everyone onboard finally gave up all hope of being saved. Shortly after this, Paul shared with all the men onboard that God sent an angel in the middle of the night to him. And this angel encouraged Paul that because of God’s plans for Paul to stand before Caesar, God would surely spare his life and the lives of everyone on board.Understanding - What does it mean?God speaks words of hope into the darkest of situations.During my senior year of high school, I found myself feeling hopeless about the future. I had made so many poor decisions, destroyed trust with my family members, was facing several potential felonies and was struggling with strong addictions. In the midst of all that, one day I got a package in the mail from my grandma. It had a circular wooden box inside. I opened it and inside it was empty except a little piece of paper folded in half. I pulled it out, unfolded it, and it had this verse written on it:Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.As I read it, there seemed to be so much weight in each word. It felt as if God himself was speaking each word directly to my heart and I began to weep. The heavy weight of hopelessness lifted off my shoulders in that moment. In my darkest hour, God spoke hope and a great destiny over my life. And they weren’t just empty words! God has surely changed my life completely since that day and his good plans continue to unfold each day in my life!Life ApplicationIn the darkest situations, turn to God’s word for hope!
God, thank you for turning our bleak circumstances into something beautiful! Thank you for your love and mercy, and for your grace that has transformed my life. You are bigger than our mistakes. You are bigger than our poor decisions. You are bigger than our past. As we look ahead, we believe that you have great plans to give us a hope and a future. Amen.
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