What to do in a crisis (1)

“We gave way to it and were driven along.”

Ac 27:15 NIV

Don’t drift. Typically we react to a crisis in the same three ways as the sailors on board Paul’s ship: “The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.” The first thing life’s storms tend to do is make us drift. We lose sight of our goals and forget where we’re headed. We ignore our values and get off course. Because they weren’t equipped with compasses and the stars were obscured by the storm, the sailors were in total darkness. Which raises the question: How do you characteristically react in a dark situation when you can’t see the stars and you don’t have a compass? You drift. You go where the waves carry you. You let your problems batter you and toss you back and forth. In life, strong currents can discourage you and make you wonder, “What’s the use? Why fight it?” So you end up going with the flow. But now’s the time to do the opposite! Strengthen your grip of faith: “Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful…Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded…persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:23,35-36 NIV). Note the phrase: “He who promised is faithful.” Question: Has God ever failed you? Answer: No! And He won’t now. “Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess…he who promised is faithful” (v. 23 NIV), and He will bring you through this crisis.

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