Missed opportunity
And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. ~ Acts 27:12
Earlier in Acts I wrote about alternate endings. When Paul wanted to go to Asia to preach the gospel, nothing he tried seemed to work. Then God gave him a dream calling him to Macedonia. If Paul had ignored that leading and pushed through with his own plan, the outcome of his ministry would have been entirely different. The world I live in today would look nothing like it does now.
In the same way, the reading today holds another potential alternate ending. Paul was on his way to Rome, and the ship needed a safe place to stay for the winter. The harbor they were in was not ideal, so the majority of the crew decided to set sail and try to reach a different harbor in Crete. Paul warned them, but they did not listen. If they had stayed, they could have saved their cargo, their ship, and their peace. More than that, they would have spent the winter with the apostle Paul. Can you imagine the impact? Sitting under his teaching every day would have changed their lives. Anywhere the apostle Paul stayed, signs followed, hearts were changed, and people were saved. Instead of growing spiritually, they nearly lost their lives in a violent storm.
When I think about alternate endings, I also see missed opportunities. Many missed opportunities in my past came from moving too quickly or trusting what I could see instead of what God was quietly nudging me to do. Some opportunities were missed because I was afraid, tired, or talked myself out of them. Others were missed because I allowed logic to override the leading of the Holy Spirit. Looking back, I now understand that many of those moments were not just missed opportunities for success. Some were missed opportunities to avoid unnecessary trouble.
God wants us to recognize the opportunities He brings our way, even when they seem small or unexpected. Many times His leading looks illogical in the natural, but it is actually a setup for progress in the spirit realm. The crew in Acts trusted what seemed reasonable, but they missed what God was trying to do through the apostle Paul. I do not want to miss what God is trying to do through me and in me.
Below are some ways you can apply this passage in your life:
- Slow down when making decisions so you don’t move ahead of God
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see opportunities He is placing in front of you
- Practice listening for internal peace instead of external pressure
- Notice repeated opportunities that come back more than once and start taking them
- Choose obedience even when God’s direction seems unusual
Pay attention to situations that keep returning to and ask God if He is speaking through them. Write down decisions you are considering and pray over them slowly. Ask God to help you recognize when an opportunity is from Him and not just from your own desires. Spend a few quiet minutes inviting the Holy Spirit to speak guidance into your heart each day. Choose one area where you have been unsure and ask God for clarity today.
There have been moments in my life when I ignored God’s prompting because I was looking at circumstances instead of listening to His whisper in my heart. Every time I followed my own logic instead of His voice, I missed something He intended for me. But when I listened, even when His leading felt uncomfortable or unusual, I realized that the opportunity He offered always carried peace, provision, and growth.
Today I want to encourage you to be on the lookout for the opportunities your heavenly Father is placing in front of you. Not the ones that look obvious or easy, but the ones that keep returning to your heart. Ask God to make His direction plain and clear, then invite Him to increase your faith and direct your steps. As you follow His leading, you will begin to see that what looked like a setback is actually a setup. Others will eventually ask how everything seems to work out in your life, and you will be able to tell them that the leading of the Holy Spirit is your secret advantage, your divine connection, and the reason you walk in confidence.
Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 27:9-12
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”
11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
Journal:
- What opportunity might God be bringing to my attention that I have overlooked?
- Where have I been making decisions based only on what I can see?
- What is one area where I sense the Holy Spirit nudging me to wait or move forward?
- When have I seen God turn what looked like a setback into a breakthrough?
The Daily Dose 