Acts 27:35-36
And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Paul and those on the ship with him had encountered a storm. This was not just any storm, but this storm was about to sink them. It was such a fierce storm that those who directed the ship were ready to flee and leave the rest to fend for their own lives. However, there was one calm voice on the ship amongst the voices of fear: the voice of Paul. Paul told them they needed to eat for their health’s sake. He then took bread and prayed for the food, and ate in their presence. When these men saw Paul’s calmness, it calmed them down to where they returned to normal life routines despite the storm.
Whenever storms come in life, somebody has to be the calm voice. I was counseling someone who was going through some storms when they said to me, “Bro. Domelle, you are so calm and calculated about everything.” I asked them, “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to get upset and nervous about everything? Is not the reason you needed my counsel is so that I can be the calm voice to help you?” My calm in their storm helped them to calm down and realize they could face their storm without worry. If you are going to be the calm voice in the storm, there are several things you must do.
First, realize that being upset and frantic in the storm will not stop your storm. Being out of control and acting frantically only makes your storm worse. You must get control of your emotions and tell yourself to calm down if you are to be calm in the storm so that you can make the right decisions. It is not that your storms are not bad, but you can make your storm worse if you don't calm down.
Second, stay in your routines. Paul taking the bread and eating was a normal routine. The storm is what got you out of your routines and has tried to get you frantic, so the best thing you can do is to keep doing the routines while in the storm. Don't change one thing while in the storm. Whatever routines you had before the storm hit are the same routines that will bring calm during the storm. Getting out of your routines only causes more instability during the storm. You need stability to stay calm in the storm, and your routines are that stability to snap you back into being able to calmly figure out how to face your storm.
Third, pray in the storm. Someone asks, “How can you stay calm in the storm?” My answer, I have talked to the Master of the seas and the winds, and He has promised to be with me through the storms. Prayer is the place where you lay your worries at the feet of Jesus. It is in the time of prayer that your concerns calm down to allow you to think of solutions for your storm. One thing you must never forsake in the storms in your time of prayer. Prayer is where you will hear the voice of the Comforter who will remind you that God is in control.
Fourth, trust God in the storm. You can be assured that you will weather the storm if God told you that He will be with you. God has never been overtaken by one storm, and yours will not be His first. Trust Him and His Word; He has promised a way to escape, and you will discover that way if you trust Him and keep your eyes on Him in the storm.
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