Quick Note – Acts 27:35 – Thanks in the Storm

Acts 27:35 – And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Paul had already gone through three trials after being falsely accused by his people for causing a riot.  Paul had already received multiple death threats, forcing him to appeal to Caesar to even have a chance to preserve his life.  Paul had already been sailing on a ship as a prisoner towards Rome.  And Paul’s warning to not sail during this time lest they incur danger had already been rejected.  Now, Paul was in a storm with the likeliness of survival being almost zero. 

Because the ship had sailed even though Paul warned them not to, the ship was caught in a storm that was battering it for fourteen days.  The sailors had tried everything to save the ship and themselves.  They had thrown out all the cargo, all the rigging, and even tried to bring down the masts and sails, but nothing was working.  They were going to die.  It was then that Paul told them that even though they had ignored his warning, God would watch over their lives.  Although the ship would be broken, no one would die.  To bring them encouragement, Paul took some bread, thanked God, broke it, and ate.  It was then that all the people on the ship were encouraged and ate as well. 

What I find interesting about this passage is that even though Paul was in the midst of a storm, a storm that threatened his life, he was still able to give thanks to God.  One of the hardest things to do when one experiences trouble is to stay faithful to God.  It is easy to blame Him for the difficulties.  It is easy to toss Him aside and to doubt His faithfulness.  It is easy to become bitter and angry.  However, that is not what Paul did.  In the midst of the storm, he trusted God and thanked Him.  We aren’t told what Paul gave thanks for.  It could be for God’s promise to watch over them.  It could be for the storm that taught them a lesson.  It could be for the bread he was about to eat.  But whatever it was, he found a reason to thank God.  And he did it in the presence of the people, who were encouraged by this act.  When we experience storms in our lives, we should still find a reason to thank God.  I’m not saying that you need to thank God for the difficulty, although it might be for a greater purpose.  I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be sad or feel down.  What I am encouraging you to do is to still find a reason to thank God.  You could still thank Him for His love.  You could still thank Him for His salvation.  You could still thank Him for your life.  Even when troubles come, there are still thousands of reasons to thank God.  So next time you are in a storm, find a reason to thank Him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.