Article November 12, 1979 Issue

Always safe

HOPE HANSON BROADSMITH

During the night I kept thinking about Paul's journey (see Acts 27 and 28), when he was being taken in custody to Rome to appear before Nero, the reigning Caesar. That journey was interrupted by shipwreck and a three-month delay in Malta. Not only were we on the same route, but it was the same time of year, and the same seasonable weather conditions prevailed.

The ship had been steady as she took us to some of the places associated with Paul's mission. Then we sailed south from Turkey—the "Asia" of his time—toward Crete, and so west for Malta. On this lap we headed into a storm. I found myself knowing in prayer that God, the only power, was with us, protecting us, and that therefore all was well. As our vessel pitched, I remembered that although the wheat ship of Paul's trip was among the strongest in his time, it was fragile in comparison with modern standards. What challenges Paul faced! And how obedient he was to take divinely guided, practical steps in overcoming them!

At one point, we are told, "they used helps, undergirding the ship.^{Acts 27:17;} This was probably a system of passing ropes underneath the hull and tightening them with a windlass to take the strain off the timbers. Today, as always, our ever-present help is God. The understanding of Him we gain from the study of the Bible and of Science and Health and other writings by Mrs. Eddy unfolds His law of harmony. This understanding lessens strain and stress in turbulent times. What safety there is in the knowledge that God is our help, and that "underneath are the everlasting arms"!^{Deut. 33:27;}