THURSDAY February 29, 2024

Loss of Hope

When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
Acts 27:17-20

At all costs, those sailing the ship in the storm wanted to avoid the dreaded Syrtis Sands that were full of dangerous, thick seaweed. They would never escape it. To combat the high waves and treacherous winds, the men used ropes and hoisted them to undergird the ship so it would not break apart. In an attempt to keep the ship afloat, they also lightened the ship by throwing what they could overboard. Darkness surrounded them––for many days they had no light from the sun or stars.

Things were getting very tough, and the men were beginning to panic. Fearful, they sensed they were going to die––this was it. They were just about to give up, yet God’s hand was upon Paul, and there was still hope. He would be used by God to encourage them.

When I was traveling to Vietnam with 5,000 troops from Hawaii to Okinawa in the South Pacific, the ship endured a few storms. Great waves tossed the ship. Everyone was so seasick! All the Marines were light-headed and exhausted. Another time, I was fishing on a boat in Mexico, and I could see in the distance huge waves coming toward us. I thought to myself, We are all dead men! Knowing we were about ten miles away from the shore, I continued to think, Well, we could survive depending on how good we are as swimmers, but the others had no care.

Have you been in a situation that has caused you to lose all hope? In dread and fear you have come to the end of your rope; nothing is able to hold your life together. You are on the verge of giving up. Let me encourage you; there is still hope––never lose hope. Take one day at a time. The Lord is with you in the storm. His mercy is new every morning.

While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered his authority.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!