The first part of Acts 27 reads like a travelogue, as Luke describes the places they went and stopped at on the way to Rome. One of the things that such an account reminds us is that this is first-hand testimony. Luke knows exactly where they went because he was there and is able to testify to the truth of the voyage. And for the most part, it’s smooth sailing until the middle of the chapter. That’s when the wind kicks up, and storm takes over and the crew begins to fear for its life.

Storms on the sea that late in the year could be devastating, which is why many travelers would winter in a particular port rather than risk going ahead. Paul had urged such a move, but he had been overruled. Now, they were in the midst of a great storm, one of hurricane force, and the prospects for survival don’t look that great. Everything that can be thrown over into the sea to lighten the load has been thrown over. Now it’s just a matter of time.

Paul, however, has a different perspective. While in prayer, he has received assurance from God that not a single person on the ship will be lost. Because God wants Paul to stand trial in Rome, every person on the boat will be saved along with Paul. Then comes one of my favorite verses in the Bible: “Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island” (Acts 27:26).

Now you might think that is a strange verse to have as one of my favorites. But to me, this whole passage is about the power of God to hold onto us through the storm. All of us have storms come into our lives, and if we say we don’t, that just means we’re not very perceptive about what’s going on around us. It may be a small storm, like an overdue bill, or it may be a storm of hurricane force, like losing a loved one or discovering cancer in your body. But storms will come. The one thing Jesus never promised is that our lives would be trouble-free. What he did promise is that we would never be alone, that he would walk through the storms with us and bring us through on the other side. That’s why this passage is so powerful to me. Paul, as godly as he was, didn’t escape the storm (either figurative or literal). He lived most of his life in the midst of one storm or another. And yet, he was never alone. Even in the midst of this life-threatening storm on the sea, Paul knew the presence of God and he sensed the promise of God to bring him through. Even if they “ran aground” on an island (which Paul knew was a certainty), they would not be lost because God would hold onto them even then. No matter what comes our way, God holds onto us. Jesus will walk with us through the storms, even when we “run aground,” even if it seems to get worse before it gets better.

Are you in a storm this day? Hold on. Hold on to God’s hand, and trust that He will bring you safely through it. It may not be the outcome you hope for, and it may not be the way you had planned it (Paul certainly never planned for a shipwreck on this journey), but God will bring you through. “Do not be afraid” (Acts 27:24).