How can we apply Paul's trust in God when facing unexpected challenges? Setting the Scene “Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.” (Acts 28:3) After surviving a violent shipwreck, Paul is bitten by a deadly snake while serving the shivering survivors. A crisis strikes without warning—yet Scripture records no panic, no self-pity, only steadfast confidence in God’s sovereign care. Trust Displayed in a Split Second • Paul keeps working: his hands are busy serving others when the snake strikes. • He responds decisively: “But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm” (v. 5). • He rejects the crowd’s fearful narrative and lets God write the ending. The islanders move from calling him a murderer to calling him a god; Paul simply keeps pointing to the Lord. Truths to Anchor Our Hearts • God’s purpose overrides every threat. The Lord had already promised, “You must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24). A snake cannot cancel a word from God. • Protection belongs to those who belong to Christ. “They will pick up snakes with their hands… it will not harm them” (Mark 16:18). • Deliverance glorifies God, not us. “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:10). Practical Ways to Live Out This Trust Today 1. Stay on mission. Keep serving even when trouble interrupts; obedience positions us for God’s intervention. 2. Shake off what latches on—fear, bitterness, false accusations—and cast them into the “fire” of God’s judgment and truth. 3. Speak life, not doom. Refuse to rehearse worst-case scenarios; declare God’s promises. 4. Rest in prior promises. Recall how He has guided and protected before; today’s crisis does not erase yesterday’s faithfulness. 5. Keep moving. Paul didn’t stop to nurse the bite; he carried on, confident that God’s plan was intact. Encouragement from Scripture • Psalm 91:13 — “You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent.” • Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.” • Romans 8:28 — “God works all things together for good to those who love Him.” • James 1:12 — “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial.” Closing Thoughts Unexpected challenges reveal where our confidence truly rests. Like Paul on Malta, we can face the unforeseen, shake off the enemy’s bite, and press forward—certain that the God who speaks cannot fail to keep His word. |
    |