Anchored by the Holy Spirit

In Acts 27, Paul’s mission to share the Gospel is violently interrupted by a storm and shipwreck. Yet in the middle of the chaos, Paul’s faith in the unshakeable word of God endures. While you watch this clip, imagine what you might have thought, done, or said had you been in Paul’s place.

In the middle of the storm, Paul takes a powerful act of faith: he cuts the ropes to the ship’s lifeboat, the last hope of safety from the storm. Then, he boldly declares, “Not one of you will be lost.” Why? Because God had spoken, and for Paul, that was enough.

Paul’s certainty did not come from calm seas or a clear plan; it came from confidence that God’s words do not fail and His plans always succeed. Paul’s resilience was not rooted in circumstance; it was rooted in the Spirit’s presence, person, and power.

Friend, that same Spirit lives in you. And He offers you the same resilient, anchored hope: a kind of hope that holds steady even as the ship breaks apart.

The truth is that storms have a way of revealing what, or who, we truly anchor our lives to. We all cling to lifeboats sometimes—those false comforts we think will keep us safe: control, certainty, self-reliance. Like the crew in the video, we reach for what feels secure when everything around us is falling apart.

But take heart. God is not shaken by your storm or by your response to it. The Spirit will continue to work in you, strengthening you to listen, to obey, and to keep surrendering to God no matter what is happening around you.

So, the next time you feel beaten and broken by the storm around you, resist the temptation to tether yourself to what cannot hold you. Instead, let the storm drive you deeper into dependence on God, your steadiest anchor. Let it strip away what is unstable, so your hope can rest in what is eternal: God’s restoration, Jesus’ love, and the Spirit’s power.

Reflection:

What circumstances are hindering you from accepting God’s plans for your life?

What do you need to surrender so the Spirit can continue working in and through you—despite unwelcome circumstances of life?

Prayer:

Jesus, I acknowledge that You may use a shipwreck to display Your power in my life. As I trust Your plan and surrender to Your way of making it happen, may the Holy Spirit anchor and empower me for the journey—detours and all.

View the full clip of Paul’s shipwreck here.