Daily Thought for Friday 8th May 2026
“So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
Acts 27:25 (NRSV)
Stormy weather
Lisa-Jane Rankine
For several holidays, we sailed around Turkey and parts of Greece in our friend’s yacht. In the main, we were lucky with the weather – I have happy memories of eating tuna caught that very day for my birthday supper, and marvelling at the clearness of the water … until the day we sailed from Symi to Rhodes.
The weather blew up and we had to tack as the wind was coming from our destination. The yacht was sailing almost on its side (or so it seemed to me!) and we were blown along at a terrifying rate. I was lying comatose (it’s a form of seasickness), my dad was sick and my husband and father-in-law – both experienced sailors – described it as character building! It culminated in being stuck in the mouth of Rhodes harbour as water had got into the engine, and we had to wait some time before we could get on to dry land. When we did, I almost kissed the ground! I didn’t think of today’s reading; instead I thought of Jesus being asleep on the boat and wondered how on earth he could manage it!
Today’s reading could almost be a travelogue of bad weather; I could almost feel myself being there in the middle of the storm, but it also has a rich vein of positivity, something we could all do with. God is always in the detail, and his angel visited Paul and told him what would happen. Paul gives such wonderful advice that I feel a glow coming off the page. He tells them not to lose courage as each one of them will be saved – his faith in God is so complete, and he conveys it so well, that the men respond to his words. He urges them also to eat as they’ve not done so for 14 days. If you’re starving and frightened, the world seems an awful place, but with some food, we’re revived and able to carry on, especially with God’s guiding hand on our back.
Paul is going to be tried “by Caesar”, and we know what happens to him in the end, but here he is, showing his faith in adversity, knowing that with God all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
Shall we pray?
Amazing God, thank you for being with us in the storms of life. Thank you for the encouragement you give, not just through you but from those around us. Help us to encourage others as we seek to be your people.
Breath of God, sweep through us; drive away our winds of questioning and doubt, so that we know you are standing near us, a breath away, in all we do and say. Amen.
Lisa-Jane Rankin is the minister of Hawick: Wilton linked with Teviothead. She has swapped sailing for trains, cars, bicycles and chocolate. She has vowed never to go on a cruise or take a canoe down the River Tarn (again). She enjoys sitting under trees with her cat.