We’ve all heard it before: “Just trust God.”

Well-meaning friends and family advise us to weather life’s storms by trusting in God. Our pastors mention it from the stage almost every week. Blog writers (like yours truly) echo the same sentiment (with the best of intentions, I should add).

And with good reason. The Bible mentions the word “trust” more than 100 times in most English translations.

But what does that look like practically? Clearly, trusting God is not merely an esoteric, ivory tower, armchair Christian concept. It’s a concrete, daily way of life. How can you and I learn to trust God in the storms?

Well, I figured, we could learn from someone who was literally caught in raging storms and demonstrated unshakeable faith in God through them. I’m speaking of the apostle Paul who wrote a sizeable chunk of the New Testament. Paul experienced a range of horrific trials—from imprisonment to stonings and beatings, and of course, some crazy storms and shipwrecks. Yet, he wrote the stunning line recorded in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

In Acts 27, Luke, who accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, writes about the time Paul journey across the seas to Rome, where he would be tried before Caesar.

Luke’s description of their voyage sounds like the script of a Netflix movie about harrowing deep-sea disaster. He writes that the ship took a “violent battering,” and it was “driven along” by the wind. Finally, a seemingly resigned Luke admits: “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope for being saved.” (Acts 27:20)

Friend, maybe you’ve been there. A place in your life where neither the sun nor stars appear. A place where the storm continues raging. A place where you finally give up all hope.

How do you pivot from this place of hopelessness to a posture of trusting God?

I don’t have a formula for you. But here’s what Paul says to the ship’s crew.

1. “Keep up your courage…” (Acts 27:22)

Paul urged this battered and weary lot not to give up. This wasn’t just the “power of positive thinking.” This was the power of God’s Word. Paul encouraged the crew based on his faith that God would do just as He promised (Acts 27:25). Friend, do we lean in to listen to God’s voice in the midst of the storm? Practically speaking, that looks like learning to be still, reading His Word, and spending time in prayer even when the waves are wrecking the ship.

2. “Stay with the ship…” (Acts 27:31)

Some of the crew wanted abandon ship and jump onto lifeboats in a selfish (and feeble) attempt to save themselves. But Paul warns them about their plan and insists they stay with the ship. Friend, the question for us is, what’s our “lifeboat”? Maybe it’s money or connections, or education or influence. Trusting God requires that we cut off those self-reliant (and sometimes selfish) lifeboats. We may want out from the storm, but trusting God requires that we stay on board and weather the winds and the waves. Trust and obey. For there’s no other way.

3. “Take some food…” (Acts 27:34)

Now, this seems a suprirsingly pleasant plan (especially for a foodie like me!). Eat. Fill up. Don’t hold back. No problemo, Paul! The men on the ship had been starving because they didn’t know how long they would be stranded on the seas. But Paul encourages them to eat so they could survive. It was a simple—yet profoundly important—act of trusting God’s character. Friend, are we constantly worried about the “what if’s?” of the future? Can we remember and rehearse the character of God as Provider and Protector? Can we learn to rest in His care? Sometimes, that looks like having our fill of His provision for that day.

Every one of the 276 men aboard the ship survived the endless storm. God had promised Paul to bring them to safe harbor. And He kept His Word.

The storm you’re caught in right now may seem to stretch on endlessly. You may feel like there’s no hope, no light, no possibility of reaching shore. But in Paul’s words, keep up our courage. Because in the midst of the wind and the waves, there is One who is our Shelter, our Stronghold, and our Safe Harbor.

 

---

If this blog resonated with you, SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter for FREE so you get my posts delivered to your inbox. I would love a Facebook or Instagram follow or share if you’re on social media. Thanks a ton for stopping by!