Talk Together

Family conversations with God’s Word.

What is something you wanted that you couldn’t stop thinking about? Why did you want it? 

After Paul became a follower of Jesus, he wanted to know, love and serve Jesus. He also encouraged others to do the same. Even though Paul served and followed God, things weren’t always easy. Sometimes Paul had everything he needed and other times he didn’t. Sometimes people treated Paul well and other times they didn’t. When Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi from prison, he told them God taught him something important during the hard times he faced. Can you help me read Philippians chapter 4, verses 11-13 to find out what Paul wrote? (Older kids can read all of chapter 4.)

ESV

… I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul told his friends he had learned to be content. He was happy for whatever he had, whether it was a lot or a little. He knew God would give him the strength he needed to do anything God had planned for his life. Paul could rejoice no matter what he faced because he knew Jesus!

Paul encountered a lot of scary things. Did you know Paul even survived a shipwreck? In the book of Acts, Paul sailed to Rome as a prisoner on a ship. He was there to tell people about Jesus. A huge storm almost destroyed the ship and its crew during the journey. Thankfully, an angel of the Lord told Paul that he and the people on the ship would survive the storm. Let’s read more about the shipwreck in Acts 27:33-34.

ESV

As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. (Acts 27:33-34)

Wow! Imagine the wind screaming and hitting the sails, and the water slapping and splattering on the boat’s planks for 14 days!

Most people on board stopped eating because they were so upset. But Paul told them God said all 276 people on board would survive. Then, in front of everyone, Paul thanked God and encouraged them to eat. The storm was strong; Paul knew God was stronger. Instead of shaking with fear and doubt, Paul thanked God and trusted His promise.

Soon after this, the ship crashed near land. The Bible says some people swam to shore and others held onto items that helped them float to land — but everyone survived.

Although most of us won’t find ourselves on a sinking ship, we will go through hard times. Remember, whether you have plenty or not enough, you can rejoice because you know Jesus will be with you — no matter what!