Daily Devotional
Are You Optimistic or Pessimistic?

June 12, 2022

Ponder This

In Acts 27:30-32, there were some sailors aboard ship with Paul during a fierce storm who said, “We’ll get in that lifeboat. We’ll get off this big ship and we’ll escape.” These men sought a form of escapism built upon selfishness. Don’t do it! You may say, “I’ll outrun or drown out my problems.” No, they can swim. You’re the one who is going to drown.

There were others who were working, throwing everything overboard. They couldn’t see which way to go. Do you know people like that? This was a storm they’d been warned about, to begin with, and now they were facing the consequences of their actions. That’s how the godless sometimes go through storms.

But what about the godly? Paul called the men together and encouraged them. He gave a good message from God. Just as in this account, there are three classes in America: those who are afraid, those who don’t know enough to be afraid, and those who know their Bibles.

• Which of these categories would you count yourself in? Why?
• How can you remain encouraged and encourage others in the middle of life’s storms?

Practice This

Encourage someone you know is having a tough time today.