Life has a way of throwing us into storms we never saw coming—financial struggles, broken relationships, loss, or uncertainty about the future. In these moments, it’s easy to feel lost, overwhelmed, and hopeless. But the Bible reminds us that even in the darkest storms, God is still in control. Acts 27 tells the dramatic story of the apostle Paul’s shipwreck. Amid raging winds and crashing waves, Paul remained anchored in God’s promises. His experience offers us powerful lessons on trusting God, finding direction, and standing firm in faith – even when all hope seems lost.
If you’re facing a storm of your own, take heart. In this post, we’ll look at some Lessons from Paul’s Shipwreck in Acts 27, and discover how God can guide us safely through life’s most difficult moments.
Paul Sails for Rome
27 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus.
You are in the Will of God – Remind Yourself
In Acts 23: 11 we see where God tells Paul, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” He is now on his way to Rome, but he is immediately in danger. Danger doggedly pursues Paul’s life.
Paul was in God’s will and yet he encountered life threatening danger on this journey. Sometimes we may be tempted to think that we are outside of God’s will when storms come our way and all hope seems lost. Jonah was outside of God’s will when he experienced his storm. But storms and hard times may also mean that we are in the will of God. The enemy is never happy when we are making strides for the kingdom and this could be the reason for attacks against us.
When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
The enemy will employ any number of strategies and hinderances to try to keep us from the plan and will of God. Paul and the ship made slow headway for many days. Because the wind was so strong, they had difficulty holding the course. Eventually they landed at Fair Havens. It’s hard to believe that God was behind this trip and that He was still with them.
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”
Maintain Your Relationship with God so You can hear From Him
Even before the sea became tempestuous, God gave Paul a glimpse of what was to come. Sometimes God gives us a glimpse of the future so that we can be prepared. He might allow us to see what the enemy will bring our way.
At other times, He’ll show us what is on the other side of the battle. This helps us keep the faith. We do not lose heart because we know that God is faithful, and He will bring to pass that which He has promised. He will bring to pass what He showed you. He’s not a man that He should lie neither the son of man that He should repent (Num. 23:19 KJV).
11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
The Storm
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so, they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so, we gave way to it and were driven along.
16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along.
18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
Trust That He Has Everything Under Control
In the violence of the storm, we can begin to lose faith. We may begin to question God, or question what we heard. Doubt may arise. We may be doing the things that we know to do, but are not seeing the desired results. The winds may get boisterous, and there is only darkness around us. We do not know what else to do. What do we do when we do not know what to do? We wait. We hold our position and wait. Our peace comes not in the absence of trouble but in the presence of God. Paul continued in prayer before God.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
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.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
Keep Your Faith in God
Be confident that the God to whom you belong and whom you serve will stand beside you. God has a way of seeming to be silent until He sends a reminder that He has not left us.
Just recently, I reminded God about the extensive list of names on my prayer list and the needs I had expressed to him repeatedly.
I reminded Him that many situations and pressing problems needed His attention. I wondered if he was paying any attention to my petitions.
I wanted to check off some names on my growing list. I reminded Him that, like King Hezekiah, I was spreading my concerns on the altar before Him. I also pointed out that answering my prayers would be in His best interest.
For the next two or three days, Isaiah 40:31, was everywhere: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I knew he heard me. Faith requires patience.
The Shipwreck
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
We do not know God’s timing.
God does everything in his time. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be tossed about on the sea for two weeks. Only God knew for what purpose He allowed that to happen. In the midst of the storm, we trust that He is still in control.
There is a scripture that I read recently. I must have read it before, but for some reason I could not stop laughing when I read it this time. Psalm 115: 2-3 asks the question, Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Yes, He does. We do not always understand His ways, or His methods. In fact, we rarely do. We just trust that He is sovereign, that He does whatever pleases Him and He does all things well.
28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[e] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Unless we remain with the ship we will be lost.
We might be tempted to do our own thing if the answers are not coming at the time when we think they should. We may experience frustration, anxiety, anger, a myriad of emotions, but it is important that we take these to God. He’s able to handle anything that we may throw at Him. Have you experienced such anger that you tell God you’ll never talk to him again? I have. Then, like a repentant child, I have to go back to Him and apologize. It was Simon Peter who asked, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68. To whom, indeed!
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive.
Feed on the Word of God
As we go through the storm, we must replenish ourselves with the word of God. Sometimes the storm can be so severe that we cannot find words to pray. But we must still keep our prayer time and if the words do not come, we remain in quietness. Silence can be a powerful prayer at times. God knows everything that is in our hearts.
We need to feed ourselves so that we do not get weak. Read the Psalms (or any other scripture that you choose) or write out your prayer to God. We need the Word to survive. You may hear a special word to you.
Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
You Are Not Alone
There were 276 other persons in this storm with Paul. This is a reminder that you’re not alone. Sometimes we may feel like we are the only ones struggling. We are the only ones experiencing pain. But this is never true. No matter our situation, others are also going through their own struggles and in many instances, it is worse than ours. As believers we should encourage each other. When we are before the Lord interceding on behalf of someone else, we tend to see less of the problems that we are experiencing. As we pray for others, they are strengthened in their faith and we are strengthened in ours.
39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.
Put on the Armour
Satan’s plan against our lives is never ending. As children of God, this is a reality that we must face. For as long as we are on this earth, we are at war . One battle may be over, but the war is not. This is why we are admonished to: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6)
Satan is a defeated foe but that will not stop his schemes, because he knows that his time is short (Rev. 12:12). God will protect his children. None can pluck us out of His hand)
He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
It may be on planks or pieces of wood, but God will see us safely to the other side. We are His dearly beloved children and He is a good father and a good God.
Question:
What lessons have you learned from the apostle Paul’s eventful voyage?
A Prayer for Strength and Guidance in Times of Uncertainty
Heavenly Father,
When the weight of this world feels too heavy, and the path ahead is shrouded in darkness, I come before You with a heart in need of Your divine guidance. You are my refuge and my strength, and I trust that You will never leave me nor forsake me.
Lord, in moments of doubt and despair, help me to remember that You are always with me, even when I cannot see or feel Your presence. Illuminate my steps, and remind me of the promises You have spoken over my life. Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard my heart and Mind.
When hope seems lost and the road ahead uncertain, grant me the courage to keep moving forward. Strengthen my faith, O God, that I may hold on to Your truth. Help me to lean not on my own understanding but to trust in Your perfect plan for my life.
I surrender my fears, my worries, and my questions to You, trusting that You are working all things for my good. Restore my hope, renew my spirit, and fill me with the assurance that You will guide me through every storm.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.