God Will Use Your Storm

One of the truths I’ve learned is that not only does the Lord often use our storms to make us, and as vehicles to get us to our ultimate destination, He will use us to do ministry along the way. Don't think because you are in a battering storm that you can't be used of God. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. There are people in the midst of the turbulence with you that need to hear your message of hope.

I’m reminded of the apostle Paul. He was imprisoned yet again, thinking the end of his earthly life was near. While sitting there in chains, he writes these astounding words to the church at Philippi.

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ” (Philippians 1:12-13).

Can you believe that God was so interested in the souls of those soldiers and “all the rest” that he allowed Paul to be imprisoned so he could be a light in their darkness? Paul’s not complaining about his situation, and it wasn’t a lack of faith that put him there. Again, he recognized the Lord was right there with him using him despite his difficult circumstances.

On still another occasion, Paul had set sail for Rome. His calling and great desire was to get to Rome. God, however, allowed his method of transportation to be a prison ship carrying over 250 convicts while he was chained as one of them. If that's not bad enough, a massive nor’easter hits and tosses the ship around like a rag doll driving it off course. All the prisoners think they are going to die, but the Lord is right there in the midst of the storm with Paul, and he tells them:

“I urge you [men] to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island” (Acts 27:22-26, NIV).

It seems there are a lot of “nevertheless-es” in our lives that the Lord uses. The ship runs ground on the island of Malta which is inhabited by friendly natives who welcomed them with open arms. It’s cold and raining on the beach, so the men build a fire to warm themselves. Paul picks up a pile of sticks and a poisonous viper jumps out and latches onto his hand. Paul simply shakes the serpent off and carries on with his business, never missing a beat. The natives standing around are all waiting for him to drop dead. They’re sure this attack happened because of some grievous sin in his life that upset the gods. But when Paul doesn’t keel over, their tune changes. They now think he’s a god and want to worship him. Paul assures them that he’s no god, but he does know the One true God. They listen and then take him to the chief official of the island whose father was sick to near death. Paul winds up praying for him, and the man was miraculously healed. “When this had happened,” wrote Luke, “the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.” Revival breaks out on the island of Malta. Paul and his gang of prisoners stayed there for three months during the winter and Paul continued to minister God’s love and grace. Eventually, the Lord provided a different ship that had wintered on the island, and it was time to move on. They set sail to Rome. My question to you is this. What are you doing in your storm?