Acts 27 narrates the sea voyage Paul took from Caesarea to Rome as a prisoner because of the gospel.

The journey took a dramatic turn when a fierce storm arose. To keep the ship from being dashed against the rocks, the crew dropped anchors.

While we may never experience a literal storm at sea, we certainly encounter metaphorical storms in life and ministry. When the waves churn and the winds howl, we too need anchors to avoid drifting toward disaster.

The following four anchors are essential.

Anchor of Stability

Leadership culture often treats stability as a weakness, not a virtue. Leading change requires flexibility, agility, and a willingness to evolve.

Moving forward in our own wisdom invites problems, however.

Paul told the sailors before they left port, “I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also” (Acts 27:10).

They set sail anyway.

During difficult times, we need spiritual discernment and godly counsel. Above all, we need the guidance of God’s Word.

Isaiah 43:1–2 says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

Let God’s Word remind you of His presence and promises amid life’s storms.

Anchor of Friendship

Some on the ship were so desperate to escape, they contemplated slipping away in a lifeboat.

But Paul warned, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31). In other words, no one would survive unless everyone stayed together.

I have sympathy for the sailors. In their perilous situation, “every man for himself” seemed more reasonable than “all hands on deck.”

Yet Paul knew staying together was necessary for survival.

This is true in ministry, too. Cutting ties to fend for oneself during difficulties only makes things worse.

Companionship is an essential anchor in ministry. Everyone needs godly friends who are reliable, faithful, honest, and trustworthy.

A pastor I know shared that during a dark time in his ministry, when he was ready to quit, he canceled a scheduled dinner with friends. As he sat on his porch, thinking about turning in his resignation, those friends showed up — with pie.

That simple act of friendship helped change the pastor’s mind and got him back on track.

We all need friends like that. Furthermore, we need to be friends like that.

Anchor of Renewal

Paul’s shipmates were so intent on battling the storm they went without food for two weeks. So, Paul encouraged them to eat.

More than that, Paul prepared the food: “He took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35).

This is reminiscent of what Jesus did and said when He fed 4,000 men and their families (Matthew 15:36); served the Last Supper (Luke 22:19); and shared dinner with two disciples following His resurrection (Luke 24:30).

We need food to live. We also need spiritual nourishment.

I’ve known too many ministers who try to fight spiritual battles without adequate spiritual preparation. Consequently, they become susceptible to burnout.

Let God’s Word remind you of His presence
and promises amid
life’s storms.

After 41 years in full-time ministry, I know how easy it is to fall into a rut — a place of monotonous routine where there is little passion and no measurable effectiveness. Ruts are where ministers burn out.

Spiritual renewal is what helps get us out of those places. Paul’s actions in Acts 27:35 restored the physical strength of those involved, but they also point to aspects of spiritual renewal.

Those on the ship weren’t hungry because they lacked food, but because they hadn’t taken it out of storage. Therefore, Paul took bread and distributed it.

Are we making use of God’s provisions? We need prayer, Bible reading, and daily quiet times with God. But we also need self-care, sabbath rest, family time, and leisure activities.

Gratitude matters. Over the course of an ordinary day, most of us experience many blessings without stopping to express thanksgiving.

Practicing gratitude means giving thanks even for stale bread during a storm.

James wrote that suffering is an occasion for joy because “the testing of your faith produces perseverance,” and the end result of suffering is becoming “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3–4).

Regularly take inventory of all the things for which you can be grateful — including those hardships that are producing perseverance and maturity.

Notice that Paul didn’t hoard the bread or eat it by himself. He gathered his shipmates around him and shared the bread with them.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 highlights the power of fellowship: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Finally, Paul began to eat, and his fellow travelers did the same. A spread doesn’t become a meal until someone takes the first bite.

If you’re in a rut, consider what you can do to take the first step in a positive direction. Position yourself for the spiritual renewal God wants you to experience.

Anchor of Perspective

Paul’s stormy journey didn’t end with a safe arrival at port but with a shipwreck.

Worse, the soldiers guarding Paul and the other prisoners considered killing them to prevent their escape. After a sympathetic officer intervened, everyone made it safely to shore.

Paul’s experience reminds us of a simple truth: No one is promised a problem-free ministry. Storms, setbacks and struggles come with the territory.

God accomplishes His purposes even when bad stuff happens. In fact, storms and shipwrecks brought the gospel to Malta (Acts 28:1–10).

It has been said, “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

In other words, perspective matters. It influences our actions, shapes our thinking, and ultimately determines how we live and lead.

Effectiveness in ministry requires the right perspective, one that will sustain us through life’s storms and shipwrecks, not merely its safe ports.

When you’re going through hard seasons, remember that you are not alone. God is with you. His promise holds true: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Knowing God is by your side should fill you with confidence. As the psalmist said, “With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).

When you feel uncertain, the Lord will “instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8).

During times of sorrow, know that God is “close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

If you’re not careful, circumstances can skew your perspective so that you start questioning whether God is present. Instead, take your perspective from God’s Word and remember that He is.

The hope Jesus offers is “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). With Him, you can weather the storms of life and ministry.

This article appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Influence magazine.