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Grace and Community

We know life is marked by milestones, and that there will be both bitter and sweet times. To move forward with healing and wholeness, we need more than platitudes—we need solid relationships, both with God and with people who love and support us. 

The story of Paul in his storm gives solace and wisdom for how to move forward. In Acts 27, the captain of the ship Paul was on decided to push for one more port before harboring for the winter, the most unpredictable season of weather on the Mediterranean. The decision proved disastrous. Though Paul had warned his shipmates that there would be a calamity if they didn’t spend the winter where they currently were, they didn’t listen. 

In the end, the storm had its way. They let the ship run. The winds drove them mercilessly forward and they had no idea where they were heading. Afraid they might run aground on a reef or sandbar on the North African coast, they tossed supplies overboard to let the ship ride higher. For more than a week, they saw neither sun nor stars until it must have seemed like they had lived in that storm their entire lives. After two weeks, as the food and water rations were nearing an end, everyone lost hope of being saved. 

Everyone, that is, except for Paul. While the rest of the 276 crew members and passengers were giving in to despair, Paul did what he knew to do. He prayed. He clung to the word God had given him that he must stand before Caesar. If it were true, then there was no way he could die in this storm. He would have to see Rome first. And he didn’t just cling to that word for his own rescue—he asked God to save all those with him as well. Even in a dark hour, Paul was a man of purpose and compassion for others. He was determined not to come out of that storm alone. 

Through the community of faith called the local church, God provides parts of the “ship” for us to hang on to—while our beachhead remains the Rock, Jesus. That means you must cling to the “ships” God has given you to see you through, the very things God has provided to each of us as a means of knowing His Son. You have to hang on to discipleship. You have to hang on to worship. You have to hang on to stewardship. You have to hang on to fellowship. Maybe those don’t seem like big things to you, but when you face big problems, it is the little disciplines that carry you through. 

God brings us together as a community and body for mutual support. After all, He is pulling you through your storm so you can in turn help others make it through theirs.