“…But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.“
Acts 27:22-26 (NIV)
The scene at sea is one of chaos. The vessel is weather-battered. Another storm is closing in. Supplies are low. Bodies are fatigued. The crew attempt to abandon ship. Fear has settled in the hearts of the people and hope is lost.
You’re on the ship – what do you do?
Ask the sailors if there’s room for one more in the lifeboat?
An average day in the workplace is a far cry from the scenario of Acts 27, but I think the types of challenges we can face at work can sometimes feel similar to the turbulent ocean waters…
The grim forecast of redundancies.
The client that doesn’t renew their contract.
A negative review on Google.
Low morale amongst the staff.
Another missed deadline sets the project back. Again.
When the waves are crashing and your experience of work leaves you weather-beaten – what do you do?
It’s always a challenge to look at the example of the apostle Paul because he seems to live a life of faith that most of us find intimidating. But his actions in this scenario can bring great practical encouragement to any of us as fellow followers of Christ navigating rough seas. Let’s take a look at how he was able to rise up as a person of influence and become God’s instrument of rescue in a time of chaos.
Paul stepped aboard the ship as a prisoner in the custody of a Roman centurion. He was low on the list in terms of importance or influence. However, his relationship with God enabled him to bring spiritual insight, wisdom and courage to those in authority, which ultimately led to the safe deliverance of everyone on board. It had less to do with Paul’s own ability or status, and more to do with his connection to the Living God!
Knowing the word of the LORD was the catalyst for Paul to take a stand of faith and speak up. In Acts 23:11, the LORD told Paul that he would testify in Rome. Then, in the midst of the storm he was visited by an angel who again confirmed that Paul must arrive in Rome, and all those who were with him on board would be preserved. Paul knew that he had to make it through this life-threatening situation at sea in order to see the fulfilment of God’s word. So by faith he recognised that this would not be the end!
As it became apparent that the ship would be destroyed and they would suffer loss, Paul didn’t hide the facts or sugarcoat the truth. He spoke plainly so that all were aware of the gravity of the situation. But, he also prophesied a different outcome to the future they all feared, according to what God had shown him. Paul allowed his faith in the LORD to speak out words of hope over the situation, and the hearts of the people were strengthened. Encouragement is a superpower!
Paul combined spiritual insight with practical wisdom, knowing it was the right thing to inform the soldiers about the plot of the crew to abandon ship and also the right time for the men to eat and regain their strength. He could see the way forward for everyone to survive, but it required everyone to be unified in their approach. By now, Paul had earned the trust of those around him and his influence was recognised. His practical advice helped ensure the safety of every person aboard that ship – despite the vessel being destroyed, not one life was lost.
What does Paul’s example teach us when we are navigating a storm at work?
First, remember that you don’t need a senior position to have a godly influence. Your job title may limit your decision-making power, but it does not limit your ability to listen to God, speak wisely, act courageously and bring peace to those around you.
Second, don’t deny the reality of the storm. Christian hope is not pretending that everything is fine or promising that every struggling project, team or organisation will survive. We can acknowledge difficult facts while refusing to surrender to fear. When others can see only disaster, faith enables us to trust that God is still present and at work, even when the outcome looks different from the one we wanted.
Third, combine prayerful discernment with practical action. In our workplaces, spiritual maturity might look like raising a concern, proposing a workable solution, checking on an overwhelmed colleague or helping a fearful team focus on the next necessary step.
Fourth, resist the temptation to climb into the lifeboat. Workplace pressure can drive people towards self-preservation: distancing themselves from failure, withholding information, shifting blame or protecting their reputation at the expense of others. Do the opposite. Remain present and use your influence for the good of the team.
Finally, remember that sometimes the ‘ship’ is lost, but the people are saved. A project may fail, a strategy may be abandoned or an organisation may have to face change. In those moments, success may not mean preserving everything as it was. It may mean protecting people, maintaining integrity and helping others reach solid ground.
So when your workplace enters turbulent waters, resist thinking “How can I escape?” and instead, ask “God, how do you want to use me here?”
Mel is Head of School for Worship.Works’ newly launched School of Work-Based Ministry – equipping believers to change their world through their work.