By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY
THEME: TEST OF MENTAL HEALTH: WHEN EUROCLYDON HITS
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:23-25
“[23]For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, [24]saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ [25]Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.”
REFLECTIONS
Many daily occurrences could cause agitation, fear, and anxiety. When unexpected and unpleasant situations happen, they create alarm, uncertainty, and desperation. Often, most people will panic in stressful situations, derailing them from having a focused and stable mind. Traumatic situations quite often expose us to our actual condition of mind. But you can have a healthy mind if your faith is anchored in Christ.
Paul was on a voyage to Rome with 275 other people. Contrary to their desire, a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon arose (Acts 27:14) and walloped them. Because they were exceedingly tempest-tossed, they lightened the ship (verse 18) and gave up all hope that their lives would be saved. Fear gripped them, except for Paul, because he trusted God, who could silence the storms. Trust in God always provides stability, calm, and hope. Good mental health thrives on trusting in God. Paul was not as disturbed as the other passengers. For the others, they looked to themselves and realized they had come to their wits end. They could hardly do anything for themselves to escape the danger that loomed. But Paul had hope.
Amid the confusion, chaos, fear, and alarm, Paul, the servant of God, stood up and encouraged the passengers, saying in Acts 27:23-25 – [23]For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, [24]saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ [25]Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” In jeopardy, hope in God can be rekindled. The apostle used the occasion to tell the passengers about the God he served. Sometimes, in times of trouble, loss, and desperation, people affected can see God’s saving hand and experience a mind change. Paul showed leadership and affected the passengers with his calm outlook.
Amid hopelessness, God sends hope. When we fear most, God’s angels await to rescue His people. Fourteen days passed, and the people did not eat for fear of their lives. “And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” – Acts 27:33-34. They now believed in the God of Paul, so they heeded his advice and ate. To the glory of God, “. . . And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.” – verse 44. With God’s intervention, the lives of 276 precious souls were saved. With a mind fixed on Jesus Christ, the storms have no power, chronic ailments do not deflate our trust in God, and even death does not have the final say – God does.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
“Master, the Tempest is Raging”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His saving grace; thank God for preserving your life and that of your family; pray for faith to trust in God in all circumstances;
– Pray for an individual or family that is facing the storms of life; pray for displaced victims of war; pray for the Israeli-Hamas war to end for the safety of the innocent people;
– Pray for pregnant women, lactating mothers, couples waiting on God for the gift of the womb; pray for the sick, those on dialysis, and all kinds of health complications;
– Pray for a peaceful country and God-fearing leaders; pray that God will take us through our economic storms and calm the agitation and fear; pray for our appreciation of God’s love for us.
