Cool, Calm and Collected

God is always present in our world but we are often too busy or preoccupied to notice Him.

Acts 27.27-44

Reference: v. 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. (NIV Bible)

Explore: In a recent podcast I recorded (Foolishly Faithful podcast) we were talking about God in the Everyday. God is always present in our world but we are often too busy or preoccupied to notice Him.
Here is Paul, in the middle of the Sea, having been in storms for the past 14 days, and he brings the crew together.  In a cool, calm and collected manor he breaks bread and gives thanks to God.  You would think that because of everything he has gone through leading up to this trip he would find it difficult to thank God.  However, even after 14 days in a storm and the whole crew fearing for their lives, Paul is able to give thanks to God and state His presence in the situation.
Through Paul's actions the crew were 'encouraged'.  This wasn't the result of the food, because let's face it, after 14 days on a ship I don't think the bread would have been fresh from the bakery.  And if we follow verse 36 it says they were encouraged first and then they ate food themselves (clearly they needed encouragement to eat 14 day old bread!)

Application:  I would love to say that when I am struggling and in my own 'storm' that I am as cool, calm and collected as Paul.  However, that is rarely the case.  Usually I am whinging and whining to God, I am frustrated and take it out on the people around me and the 'storm' sends my whole life into a bit of a whirl.  And yet God is with us through the calm seas but also through the storm.  We may not always notice him and we may be so busy trying to solve everything ourselves that we forget to stop, even in the middle of the storm, and give thanks to God and invite Him back into our situation.
It's not always easy and it doesn't mean everything is going to be smooth sailing after that, but we can be encouraged in those moments by reminding ourselves that God is always present.

Prayer:  Lord, its so easy to worship you when we're gathered together with other Christians and we're all doing the same thing.  But in the storms of everyday life I can often forget to rely on you.  I take this moment now to invite You into my life again today…  Amen.

Acts