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Friend, before the coffee cools and before the day gathers speed, let's spend a few moments together in the harbor of God's Word. Welcome to this Thursday verse of the day bonus episode of Tales of Faith by the Sea. Today's verse comes from Acts chapter 27, verse 22. Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. By this point in the voyage, the crew had endured days of relentless wind and towering seas. The sun had disappeared, the stars were hidden, their navigational bearings were gone. Luke tells us that all hope of being saved was gradually abandoned. Can you imagine that? Professional sailors, men who had spent their lives upon the sea, had reached the place where they believed there was no hope. Then Paul stood. He did not stand because the storm had ended. He did not stand because the ship had become secure. He stood because God had spoken. The night before an angel of the Lord had assured Paul that everyone aboard would survive. So while others measured the future by the size of the waves, Paul measured it by the certainty of God's promise. That is one of the greatest differences between fear and faith. Fear asks, what if the storm wins? Faith asks, what has God said? Christian courage is not pretending that danger does not exist. Paul certainly knew the storm was real. Christian courage is choosing to trust God's promises even while a storm still rages. That kind of courage is contagious. One faithful believer can bring calm into a room filled with anxious hearts. One Christian who trusts the Lord can become a source of strength for an entire family. One congregation filled with hope can shine like a lighthouse in a fearful world. The reason is simple. Our confidence has never rested upon calm seas. It rests upon the faithfulness of God. Perhaps today you feel surrounded by circumstances that seem beyond your control. The winds are still blowing, the waves are still high, the future still seems uncertain. Then hear Paul's words as though they were spoken to you this morning. Keep up your courage, not because life is easy, not because every problem has disappeared, but because the God who keeps his promises is still with you. The storm may yet continue, but hope has already stepped aboard. Until next time, may your courage be rooted in God's promises. Your faith remains steadfast through every trial, and your heart find peace in the Lord who is faithful even when the skies are dark. This has been Nathan Hampton, a minister in the Lord's Church. Safe sailing, my friends, and goodbye.