God’s man/woman is indestructible until he has finished the work God has called him to do. Therefore, we have no reason to fear anyone or anything.

II Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

The storms of life must and will come. They will usually come when everything is going well.

Acts 27:13-25, “And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

The Apostle is being transported by ship to Rome for his hearing before Caesar. His arrival would be after much difficulty. He sailed through one of the worst storms of his life. This was not his first storm or his last through which he was to pass.  He moved, it seemed, from one storm to another.

God has not promised us a calm voyage, but a certain one. Reading Paul's life history, our journey is not a pleasant one, but a perilous one.

II Cor. 11:23-28, "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty (stripes) save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered ship wreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."

He experienced physical storms, emotional storms (weariness) and spiritual storms (opposition and persecution). No believer can escape the storms. They cannot be avoided. Therefore, we must learn the valuable lessons from the Scriptures and from experience.I am not a pessimist, but I suggest that you watch for the storm.

STORMS ARE TO BE EXPECTED.
Not all weather is fair. Some of it is foul. We must have a faith that is capable of meeting and mastering storms. Our Lord did not spare His disciples the tempests. He even sent them into one. He was with them on one occasion when they encountered a storm. They were confident until the waves arose. They then did what the storm could not do. They awakened Jesus. "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38) Their faith trembled! Did they forget? Did they not remember?

No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.

The Psalmist knew better.

Psalm 46:1-3, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountain be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

John Newton wrote:
“Be gone, unbelief, My Saviour is near,
And for my relief will surely appear.
By prayer let me wrestle and He will perform,
With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.

We are to expect storms. Eventually every saint will know the choppy waters of disappointment, the swelling tide of discouragement, the howling wind of defeat and the darkened skies of death. They are to be expected.

STORMS ARE TO BE ENDURED.
What else can be done? Think of the disciples alone on the stormy sea? They rowed. What could they do but row? There are some experiences that cannot be avoided or escaped- but endured.

Fair weather faith is not sufficient. We must ask ourselves the question. "How much rough weather can my faith stand?" Storms are the tests, and tribulations, which come in life. Do you know what bothers us most about storms?

THE SIZE OF THE STORM
v20 "no small tempest". They are so big. Storms at sea are immense. Fourteen days these men were driven to and fro. I think of Job! Think how large a storm he was in, his possessions, his children, and his health. "He would crush me with a storm." Job 9:17. Storms are crushing experiences.

THE SUDDENNESS OF THE STORM
They come so quickly. From out of nowhere. There was a gentle southern wind blowing when Paul's ship loosed from shore. Then came Euroclydon. Life was sunny and bright, then came darkness and you are plunged into a storm. So sudden with no time to prepare. This is why faith must be nourished. When the crunch comes there is no time to grow. You either have it or you don't.

Job said;
"You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm." Job 9:17.

Storms are called by insurance companies "Acts of God." It means they have no control over them-neither do you. But God is in control. He holds not only the saint in His hand, but also the storm.
To the saint, Jesus says, "Peace".
To the storm, Jesus says, "Be still".
Their size, their suddenness, then;

THE SENSELESSNESS OF THE STORM.
Storms seem so meaningless. We wrestle to know "the why" of the storms. May I remind you of this truth;

Just because they do not make sense to you, doesn't mean they do not make sense to someone. Just because they don't make sense to you now doesn't mean they won't make sense to you later.
Storms are to be expected, storms are to be endured.

STORMS ARE ALWAYS ENDED.
No storm lasts forever. Sooner or later they all come to an end. Let us learn from them. We usually experience two things in a storm:

A sense of helplessness;
A sense of hopelessness.

"All hope that we should be saved was taken away." (v.20)
"They wished for the day."(v.29)
But in the midst of the darkness and difficulty, a burst of sunlight appeared.
v. 22 "Be of good cheer"
God came to Paul in the darkest hour not only to declare His Word, but to deliver His workman.
Faith rose up to meet the storm. Listen to his declaration,
Vs 25 "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God"

 I believe God. That is more than a confession of creed. It is an expression of confidence in God Himself. Millions say, "I believe in God." Do they believe God?"

REMEMBER HIS PRESENCE.
The God of creation is the God of comfort. He is sovereign, yet He is sympathetic. He manifests His power, but He also ministers His pity. Our God of greatness is a God of grace.

"For there stood by me this night the angel of God," v.23
Our Lord said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. Lo, I am with you even unto the end of the world."

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through.
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe.
He hath not told us we shall not bear,
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide.
Never a mountain, rocky and steep;
Never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer, light for the way.
Grace for the trials, help from above
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.
Remember, You Are His Possession
v.23 "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am."
We belong to God. We are children of the King. He is our Bridegroom, our Father, our Shepherd, our Redeemer, our Lover and our Companion. Nothing can touch you but that He permits it.
Everything is designed for your good and His glory. You belong to Him and He loves you utterly.

REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID.
Remember His promises.
"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." (v. 25)
God is faithful. He is never surprised. He is never perplexed. He is never out of control. Remember what He said.

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not oveflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God" Isaiah 43:2-3.

Also " Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10.

We sing a great old hymn.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith is His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?