Comforted to Comfort

Acts 27:36 – They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

Paul, his co-prisoners along with the Roman soldiers are still at sea. Ignoring Paul’s warning of danger, they had continued to sail. Now they find themselves, without food or cargo, tired, hungry and discouraged.

Paul must have been rather exhausted and worried too. The Lord appears to him, reassuring him that not one of them would be lost, because the Lord had promised that Paul would stand trial before Caesar, in Rome. Paul shares this vision and encourages the others. By the fourteenth night, they find themselves drawing close to land with the fear of being dashed on the rocks. Paul again assures them that not one of them would be lost and encourages them to eat.

They soon strike a sandbar and find themselves adrift in the middle of the sea. Those who could, swam ashore while others got onto planks of the ship and drifted ashore. Not one of them was lost. Paul was the reason that 276 men’s lives were spared (v37).

God continues to comfort His people today through His Word, often giving us the apt word we need in our times of distress. But it is also true that it is often when we are most exhausted, that the Lord calls us to comfort others. Just when we feel we cannot go on; God gives us people who need to be comforted.

Are you drawing your strength daily from His Word? Is there someone the Lord is calling you to comfort, but you have been sort of running away, because you are tired yourself?