Acts 27:9-11

New International Version (NIV)

Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous … But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.

For meditation

1. Do you see how restless we can become when things don’t work within our set times? How many of us haven’t kicked and complained, because we thought we lost time? How many haven’t blamed God and leveled accusations against Him because things didn’t happen timely for us?
2. But do we ever consider what God may be doing in all of that? Do we have any idea what He may be preventing or setting up to meet a critical need?
3. As I heard from my nephew this morning, how many times haven’t you heard something like this, “I should have left town some days ago, but, you know Ghana; things don’t work according to the clock and that makes business so difficult?” Can you sense his frustration during that time? But how do you think he felt later when his father got gravely ill and had to be hospitalized in a broken and complicated hospital system? What would his ailing mother have done without him? Do you see how God works?
4. For my family, Kwame’s disappointment and frustration turned out to be a blessing; but for the passengers on the cargo ship that was transporting Paul to Rome, it was no fun (Acts 27:1-44). They shipwrecked (41)! Was it not because, in their frustration due to much lost time, they disregarded the godly counsel of Paul (9-11)?
5. So what do you do when you lose “much time” (9)? Can you process things through God’s perspective rather than the pressure of time? Can you trust the purpose of God for everything – even your disappointments? Wouldn’t it be helpful to your nerves?

I pray that at such times, we may remember His gracious word of encouragement in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

So: May you not fret and disregard good counsel when you lose time in anything; but may you be thankful for God’s providence, and His gracious hand at work for your good and His glory.

It is well!

Shalom