“After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.” (Acts 28:1 ESV).
Luke recorded how the ship carrying Paul and his companions had run aground and broken apart in a storm. By God’s providence, all 276 passengers were brought safely to shore. Once ashore, they discovered they had landed on the island of Malta. What initially appeared to be a disaster was actually a divine detour. Paul, though a prisoner en route to Rome, did not let his chains or the shipwreck stop him from continuing his gospel mission. During the three months on Malta, he healed the sick, including the father of the island’s chief official, and shared the gospel with all who came to him. The people who first viewed him as a criminal later honored him as a man of God. Though rejected in Jerusalem, Paul was received with joy by Gentiles on this remote island. God had turned a storm into a stage for gospel ministry.
We often find ourselves on unexpected shores. Plans fall apart. Detours happen. But even when our circumstances feel like shipwrecks, God is still guiding us. Like Paul, we can trust that the Lord is at work in our interruptions. We may not recognize where we’ve landed at first, but if we open our eyes, we’ll see that God has brought us safely through and placed us where He wants us to serve. Every delay can be a divine appointment. Wherever He sends us—whether in a hospital room, a job transition, or a new city—we are called to share the good news of Jesus. Let’s learn to look for gospel opportunities in every detour.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for bringing us safely through the storms of life. Help us to trust You when plans change or circumstances feel out of control. Give us spiritual eyes to recognize the “Malta moments” in our lives—those places where You’ve sovereignly placed us to serve and share Christ. Use us, even in the unexpected, for the advancement of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, amen.