| Overcoming
Adversity(Anchors That Help Us Weather the Storms of Life)Introduction:I.
Adversity comes in many forms and fashions. These perplexing predicaments
seem to come at the most inconvenient times. The frustrating thing is that
adversity doesn’t need an invitation to invade our lives. One moment life
appears to be quiet and peaceful, and then the next moment we find ourselves
caught in the middle of a storm. The good news for us is that with the help
of God, the love of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can
weather the storms of life.II. In Acts 27 we find Paul on a ship caught in a
violent storm. I must pause to point out that it was a situation that was
very much avoidable. Paul was on his way to Rome to stand before the judgment
seat of Caesar. The ship he was on made its way from Caesarea to the island
of Crete, landing on the southern coast of the island at a small harbor
called Fair Havens. Because sailing in the Mediterranean Sea at that time of
year was very dangerous, Paul advised the centurion that they stay there.
Let’s read some of the text (Acts 27:9-15). Why were they in this situation?
It was because they refused sound advice and took an ill-advised journey into
dangerous territory. But we can all relate to that, can’t we? Many of the
storms of life are caused when we set sail on a precarious course, ignoring
the sound advice of those who know better. How many times has a parent told a
child not to, but the child does so anyway and finds himself in a storm? How
many times have people been advised not to go to a certain place or consort
with certain people, and yet have ignored that advice only to get caught in a
storm? Like the storm that Paul’s ship was caught in, many of the storms of
life are self-induced and could be avoided with a little sound judgment.But
regardless of the reason why, Paul now finds himself caught in a storm. And
this is not just any storm, but one that is so severe that ultimately
everyone on the ship gives up hope of survival (vers. 18-20). But Paul is a
faithful child of God! Thus, in the midst of the storm, Paul gets a message
of hope from his Father (vers. 21-26).III. From this text, I want to share
with you four anchors that can help us weather the storms of life. We all
have moments where we feel like we’re in the midst of a storm, don’t we?
Perhaps there’s a storm brewing over your life right now. Maybe it’s a stormy
marriage. Maybe you’re married to someone who argues, fusses and fights with
you all the time or maybe YOU’RE the one precipitating the arguing, fussing
and the fighting. But regardless of who is at fault, some days you feel like
nothing will ever change and that your marriage is a shipwreck and there is
no hope.Overcoming Adversity: Anchors That Help Us Weather the Storms of
LifeOr maybe there’s another type of storm brewing in your house. Maybe it’s
a stormy relationship with a child who rebels against your authority all the
time. After months of dealing with this, you’re not sure if there anything
more you can say or do. You feel like there is no hope.Maybe your storm is
job related, finance related or health related. Or maybe you feel battered
and storm-tossed and you have no idea why you feel that way. You can’t put a
finger on it. All you know is that you feel desperate and discouraged and it
seems that there is no hope.Well listen to me: when Paul was in the midst of
a storm, God told him not to fear. Why? Because God was going to help him.
And if you are a child of God, I want you to know that your heavenly Father
will help you too. I don’t care what the storm is or how severe it may be. It
might be the perfect storm, but God can help you. God can anchor your life.
So then, let’s look at four anchors that can help us weather the storms of
life.Lessons:I. The Presence of God.”For there stood by me this night
the angel of God…” (ver. 23).In a world full of adversity, this is good
news. God stands by His children. God, ladies and |
