Have you ever felt stuck in life? A dream job on hold. A relationship strained. A plateau in your goals. Or it might be financial burdens, chronic illness, or watching a loved one make poor choices.

In Acts 27, the apostle Paul is taken prisoner for sharing the gospel and placed on a boat bound for Rome to stand trial. Before the crew could get too comfortable, a violent storm sprang up. The ship eventually broke apart and every man onboard was stuck on the remote island of Malta for a long winter. Paul’s faith literally led him to a storm.

Unfortunately, faith doesn’t prevent storms in our lives.

It can be difficult to reconcile God’s unfailing love for us when the storms of life throw us off course. This isn’t how we planned it, so now what do we do?

Paul shows us three ways to stay the course with God when we feel stuck in life.

1. Surrendering to the detours is God’s grace period for you to grow.

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 27:25-26 NIV

Paul encouraged others with God’s Word. Even when it feels like we’re off course, God can still get us where He wants us to go. Paul is going to get to Rome, but first God has him here on an island. God is developing your character today for life just ahead. Remembering that Jesus is always standing guard for your good can help silence any grumbling.

2. “Snakes” happen, just shake them off.

Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:3,5 NIV

When his unfortunate situation went from bad to worse, Paul could have become bitter and sunk his thoughts deep into despair. Even the islanders knew a snake bite could result in death. Instead, he shook it off and moved on with a mission to share Christ with others. We can move beyond our feelings so that the testimony of Jesus remains center stage of our circumstances.

3. No matter where you are, God’s presence and power are accessible.

Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. Acts 28:7-9 NLT

Paul had hoped to be in Rome, but right now, Paul was on the island of Malta. So Paul shared the gospel, prayed for the sick, and healed a man. Despite being a prisoner of his own circumstances, Paul allowed God’s power to move through him to help others.

Are you in a season of waiting?

We have a choice when we feel shipwrecked or when God takes us on a detour. We can sit and wait in misery to get off the island or we can make the most of where God has us. Instead of moping about his shipwreck in Malta, Paul turned the island into his ministry, his personal assignment from God.

How will you respond to your detour?

For additional teaching, check out When God Doesn’t Make Sense—a series for when life doesn’t go the way you expect.

I’m on this journey with you.