Navigating Life

Acts 27:1–8

“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonrged to the Imperial Regiment. 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. 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. From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.”

Sailing through life isn’t a walk in the park, we all experience difficulties. The difference God makes is that we journey with Him, He guides us steadily in His wisdom and kindness. We are not lost, we have Christ our Good Shepherd. God grants us favour in the sight of others, and provides for our needs even in days of trouble (v. 3), and when in times of testing, we are disciplined and challenged by Him to trust Him for our growth and maturity, in faithfulness, (for His purposes) He has afflicted (Psa 119:75): “My son, my daughter, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as favoured children.” Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what child is not disciplined by his father (Heb 12:5–7)?” This is so that we may always seek His wise counsel, that we may cling to Him and trust Him and that we may be better faithful children of His. We may stray away, as ourselves and many of us have, when difficult times arise, but we remember our creator in the days of our youth before hardships cause us to despair (Ecc 12:1), and even when we are still a long way off, He runs to us to embrace us (Luke 15:20, Rom 5:8)! God is with us, and He promises to be with us through it all and so let us trust and strive to be strong and courageous (Deut 31:6) and acknowledge God, He reminds us through wisdom in the Proverbs that this is how we navigate through life’s seas: “my child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and people. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path (Prov 3:1–6).”