Paul was shipwrecked and landed on an island called Malta. His crew and himself had a horrific journey filled with a tempest and they somehow escaped to this island. God had a purpose to make him through that storm. Well, God has a purpose for everything isn’t it? What was that here?

It was raining heavily and the natives of that island showed unusual kindness to Paul and to his crew. As it was very cold, they kindled a fire to make the crew feel warm and welcome. Somewhere this resonates with our life too. When we go through the storm, people around us feel pity on us and they try to be kind. They share encouraging words to make us feel better. But that’s not the end of it as it was in the case of Paul.

When the fire was burning and Paul was warming itself, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. For a man who had just gone through a storm, how would this feel? Adding to this was the comments from the natives. They discussed among themselves that Paul had committed some terrible sin and hence that, even though he had escaped from the tempest, he had got into trouble with this viper. As if the storm was not enough for Paul, this criticism heightened his problem. Many of us go even go through trouble after trouble. We feel dejected, anxious and stressed. And of course adding fuel to the fire would be the words from the same people who had showed kindness earlier now criticizing that we might have sinned a lot to be going through all this hell.

Paul shook off that creature into the fire and suffered no harm cause he had immense trust in God. The natives expected that he would swell up or die suddenly. But for a long time and even later, nothing Paul happened to Paul. He was safe and sound. People around us shake their heads thinking that we would never come of the storm. They feel that this will be our end and they never will see goodness in our lives. Paul might have looked like a fool in the natives eyes, but God was faithful to ensure that Paul did not swell up and die. The same natives who earlier criticized him now complimented him. It wasn’t a normal one. They claimed that Paul was a God. They were filled with so much surprise and wonder seeing that Paul did not die that they thought Paul to be God. Isn’t this wonderful?

If God can change that criticism to compliment in Paul’s life, will he not do the same for you? Can he not lift you up in front of people’s mocking eyes? You know, God did many miracles through the hand of Paul to natives in that island that while the crew was leaving the island, they were honored in every possible way and all necessary things were given to them.

How amazing is this testimony? Every plan of God is flawless and every work of his in your lives has a purpose. Although he may give you the bread of adversity and affliction, yet his unfailing love will cover you and bring you through and he will you make attain zenith of happiness. “All things work together for good for those who love him and for those who are called according to his purpose”-Romans 8:28.

My dear friends, if you go through a storm and if people criticize you, Praise God for it. Trust in him. Soon those criticisms will turn into compliments. Such will be that miracle in your life. God bless You! Amen!

(Scripture ref: Acts 28:1-10)