Surviving The Storm Series

Introduction – When The Storm Doesn’t Ask Your Permission

Storms don’t send calendar invites.

They don’t check if you’re ready.

They don’t ask if now is a good time.

They just show up.

For some of us, the storm has been loud and obvious.

For others, it’s been quiet—anxiety, uncertainty, waiting on something that still hasn’t resolved.

And one of the hardest truths for us to sit with is this:

Sometimes the storm comes while you’re doing exactly what God asked you to do.

Paul isn’t rebelling.

He isn’t running.

He’s obeying—and still ends up in the middle of chaos.

That matters, because if we’re honest, many of us were taught—maybe indirectly—that obedience should lead to smooth sailing. But Acts 27 tells a different story.

This is Week 3 of Believe Boldly.

Week 1, Blind Bartimaeus showed us bold faith cries out.

Week 2, the Centurion showed us bold faith trusts Jesus’ authority.

Today, Paul shows us bold faith declares God’s promise in the middle of the storm.

Paul is a prisoner on this ship.

He’s not in charge.

He has no visible authority.

But he is listening to God.

Before the storm ever reaches its worst moment, Paul tries to warn them.

READ: Acts 27:1, 7–11

The response is almost predictable.

They trust experience over discernment.

They trust expertise over wisdom.

They trust position over character.

And we still do this today.

We ignore warnings because they don’t come from the voice we expected.

We dismiss truth because of who it comes from.

And sometimes, we don’t really realize what we ignored until the storm gets worse.

But here’s grace:

God doesn’t abandon them because they ignored the warning.

1) When all hope is gone – God speaks anyway

Things spiral quickly.

The storm intensifies.

Visibility disappears.

Strength fades.

Luke records something chilling: all hope was gone.

This isn’t mild fear.

This is despair.

And despair is dangerous—not because it’s dramatic, but because it convinces us that nothing can change. It causes is to give up on hope.

This is often where people stop praying.

Stop asking.

Stop hoping.

But this is also where God speaks.

READ: Acts 27:20–26

Pause.

Notice what God promises—and what He doesn’t.

He promises no loss of life.

He does not promise no loss.

The ship will be destroyed.

The journey will not look how they planned.

But God will be faithful.

And Paul doesn’t keep that word to himself.

2) Faith Speaks up and Declares the promises of God

Paul gathers everyone together and tells them what God said.

This is bold.

He’s speaking hope into a room full of fear.

He’s declaring truth when circumstances argue the opposite.

And he’s honest.

Not everything will be saved.

But everyone will.

This is mature faith.

Not denial.

Not pretending things are okay.

Not minimizing pain.

Faith that says, “God spoke—and I trust Him.”

Faith turns declaration into action

Declaring God’s promise doesn’t make us passive—it prepares us to act.

Paul doesn’t just preach.

He leads.

He tells them to eat.

To regain strength.

To prepare.

READ: Acts 27:30–38

Then something practical—and painful—happens.

They start throwing cargo overboard.

Things they worked for.

Things that had value.

Things they assumed they needed.

Sometimes trusting God means letting go of what used to keep you secure.

Not sinful things.

Good things.

Plans.

Control.

Certainty.

What you thought the outcome would be.

Bold faith is willing to release what threatens survival—even if it once felt essential.

3) Even when everything seems to fall apart—God is still faithful

Eventually, the ship hits land.

It doesn’t arrive cleanly.

It doesn’t dock smoothly.

It breaks apart.

READ: Acts 27:39–44

Pause.

Some swim.

Some cling to broken pieces of the ship.

But everyone arrives alive.

God’s promise was kept—just not in the way anyone would have scripted.

And that right there is a word for someone today.

You might not arrive the way you imagined.

But you will arrive.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION – When We Are Paul

In 2010, 33 miners in Chile were trapped more than 2,000 feet underground after a mine collapse. For 17 days, no one on the surface knew if they were alive. Families waited. Rescue teams drilled with no guarantee they were even drilling in the right place.

Underground, the situation was grim. Food was rationed to crumbs. Darkness was constant. The men had no timeline and no clear way out.

But something remarkable happened down there.

Leadership emerged—not through authority, but through encouragement and structure. One miner began organizing routines. Another made sure food was shared fairly. Prayer became regular. Hope was spoken before there was evidence it would be fulfilled.

When contact was finally made, the miners didn’t ask first, “How long until you get us out?”

They asked for Bibles, letters from home, and encouragement.