Our day of waterskiing started under a brilliant sun and blue sky. After a few turns that worked us further down the lake, we noticed a change. Dark clouds bunched to the west and we felt an ominous wind. We immediately turned for the dock.

Me, my wife and my brother-in-law watched the storm stalk us as the boat pounded through choppy water, racing for shelter. Just as we sighted the dock, the storm engulfed us. A hot July afternoon disappeared into a pounding curtain of heavy rain and thunder. Visibility dropped to a few feet, so we slowed the boat to a crawl. Covered with our only protection—beach towels—we hunched down and endured.

Several frightening minutes passed before the squall left us alone. Finally the sun shone again and the water steamed off our backs. Solid ground welcomed us like an old friend.

Paul and his companions also suffered in the midst of a horrific storm. For fourteen days the winds tossed them around the Mediterranean, a cruise gone terribly wrong. Miraculously, even after the ship wrecked, everyone on board survived.

Storms arrive as unwelcome guests. Some blow through quickly, others last longer, and a few settle in and get comfortable. None are welcome. Storms come and we must deal with them as best we can.

Paul endured the storm by seeking the Lord and encouraging his friends. Always a good recipe for dealing with storms—friends and the Lord.

Acts 27 in week twenty of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by JOHN TOWNER