V-alidating our Trust in God – Part 5

This newest series of messages on Internet Pastor is called “V-alidating our Trust in God”.

In our series on validating our trust in God, we have talked about the v-ision, the v-enture, the v-ariables and today we will talk about the v-alleys. The v-alleys are those difficult times and seasons that we all face. Jesus told us these v-alleys would be a part of our lives.

John 16:33 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We are going to use as our background for this message a story from the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul dealt with a lot of v-alleys in his life.

Here are a few examples:

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (NIV)
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

After going through all of those situations, Paul is able to write this:

2 Corinthians 6:4 (TEV)
4 Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God’s servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties.

The story we are going to look at is found in Acts 27. Paul was being transported as a prisoner to Rome and they have faced some delays and Paul warns the Captain and crew not to keep going, but they decide to go anyway. Often times when we are impatient we head right into a storm.

Acts 27:9-10 (NIV)
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”

This story of shipwreck can teach us a few things about dealing with the v-alleys of life. Some of your difficulties feel like shipwrecks anyway.

1. What caused it?

Was it me? Was it others? Was it the enemy? Was it some combination of all of the above?

When we are trying to establish the cause of the difficulty we need to go to God in prayer.

Psalms 73:16-17a (TEV)
16 I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me 17 until I went into your Temple.

We need to be connected with God or we will make the same mistakes that the people on Paul’s ship made. Paul had told them not to go because God had warned him about the consequences. Rather than listen to God they:

a. Listened to bad advice

Acts 27:11 (NIV)
11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.

God told them not to go through Paul, but they chose to listen to their “expert” instead. Our expert is often the person who says what we want them to say.

b. Followed the crowd

Acts 27:12 (NIV)
12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

The majority is often wrong. Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it right.

c. Relied on circumstances

Sometimes we decide that because the right circumstances seem to be in place that somehow trumps the wisdom of God.

Acts 27:13 (NIV)
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

Always ask God if these are the steps you should take. It doesn’t take long for a nice breeze to turn into a hurricane

2. What can I learn from this v-alley?

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Rather than try and find someone to blame for our problems we need to see what we can learn from the situation. God can use even the worst situations to teach us things we need to know for life.

Romans 5:3-4 (TLB)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us–they help us learn to be patient. 4 And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.

3. What should my response be?

Start screaming it’s not fair over and over while stomping your feet? Pout? Turn to your addictions?

Back in our shipwreck story we can get a few clues.

a. Don’t start drifting

Acts 27:15 (NIV)
15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.

We sometimes let the storms and valleys of life push us a long and we start drifting off course.

b. Don’t start throwing it all away

Acts 27:18 (NIV)
18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.

When things get tough one of our reactions is often to start throwing things away. Things like our values and our relationships. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m checking out.

c. Don’t despair

Acts 27:20 (NIV)
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Despair causes us to give up hope. They forgot that even in the midst of a storm, God is in control.

One of the most fascinating things to me about this story is that while everything in the story is falling apart, Paul is doing fine. His trust was not in the ship, it was in God. When you are going through the storms and valleys of life you need to remember that God is in control and you can trust Him.

PS.

Two little things I thought were funny in the story. One of them was Paul couldn’t resist a little I told you so:

Acts 27:21 (NIV)
21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.

The second this is this:

Acts 27:34 (NIV)
34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”

Sometimes when you are really stressed, you absolutely need God, and a little pound cake might not hurt either.

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