“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:35-36).
Two weeks is a long time to go without eating. Yet, the storm at sea had been so severe that the passengers on this ship had gone that long without food. Now their only hope of surviving this crisis was the word Paul had given them that an angel had told him they would all survive.
Interestingly, Paul didn’t just give them bread but he gave thanks in front of them all. The storm was still tossing the ship and they were still as helpless as they had been for days. All they had going for them was a promise of divine intervention. Yet, as Paul served them bread he gave thanks.
God’s promises are so sure that we can give thanks in the midst of whatever circumstances we are facing. His word is so dependable that storms can’t shake it. Jesus didn’t calm the storm as He had done on the Sea of Galilee, but He rendered it powerless to stop Paul’s mission. He had said Paul would go to Rome and no storm could keep that from happening.
Paul’s act of faith, and ours, is to give thanks while the storm is still raging. We can be so sure of God’s promise that while the wind is still blowing and the waves are still pounding the boat we can give thanks because we know what the outcome will be. God’s promises are that sure.
