Trouble Ahead

Scripture: Acts 27:1-12

1 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province. 3 The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. 4 Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. 5 Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. 6 There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board. 7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it. 10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. 12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure. (Acts 27:1-12 NLT)

Today’s devotional is a little longer, because there’s really no place to break the story and there are some things I really want to address for us. Please take time to read all twelve verses. These verses detail the beginning of Paul’s journey to Rome under Roman guard. While it reads like a simple travel log filled with headwinds, changing ships, and harbor stops, it offers real wisdom for navigating difficult seasons. I love this story! I love the detail, the people, and the places! I actually got out a map and traced this journey from Luke’s account. It was over 800 miles and likely took close to a month, changing ships in Myra, just over half-way to Fair Havens, near Lasea, where this part of the journey ends. Here are some devotional thoughts for us:

An Unexpected Kindness (v. 3). Julius, a Roman centurion, showed Paul kindness by allowing him to go ashore at Sidon to be cared for by his friends. Even while traveling as a prisoner, Paul found unexpected grace through a pagan officer. God often places people in our path to offer refreshment right when the journey feels restrictive or heavy. Be open to receive unexpected kindness and realize that God can move the hearts of anyone around you to provide exactly what you need.

Faithfulness When the Wind is Against You (v. 4–8). Luke repeatedly notes that progress was painfully slow—they encountered strong headwinds, had several days of slow sailing, and struggled along the coast with great difficulty until reaching Fair Havens. Difficulty doesn’t mean you are out of God’s will. Paul was on his way to Rome exactly as God had planned, yet the journey was a grueling grind. When your life feels like slow sailing against relentless headwinds, don’t despair. Persistence in the storm is often how God builds our spiritual resilience.

The Danger of Prioritizing Comfort Over Truth (v. 9–12). Paul warns the crew that continuing the voyage will bring disaster. Instead of listening to Paul, the centurion followed the advice of the ship’s captain and owner because Fair Havens was a poor place to spend the winter. They prioritized comfort and convenience over godly discernment. Fair Havens wasn’t comfortable, but it was safe. How often do we ignore wise, godly counsel simply because staying where we are feels inconvenient or unpleasant? Patience in a poor harbor is far better than smooth sailing straight into a shipwreck.

Prayer:

Thank you for every unexpected kindness we receive in life’s journey. May we be ever open and always grateful for kindness in difficult times. Help us not to be “weary in well-doing” but to persevere graciously against headwinds of resistance. As we seek the way forward, please give us discernment, godly counsel, and the wisdom not to simply go for the most convenient or comfortable choices! We’re “on our way to Rome” and we trust you to get us there in your best way and timing! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!