Strength in Brokenness: Surviving Life's Storms

Devotional

Day 1: God Delivers Through Broken Pieces

Sometimes God allows what we depend on to break so that we can see His power to deliver us even through the fragments. When Paul and the others survived the shipwreck in Acts 27, it was not on a whole, sturdy vessel, but on broken pieces of the ship. This reminds us that God does His best work with pieces, and our deliverance may come from what we thought was our destruction. Even when life feels shattered, God can use the fragments to bring us safely to shore. [16:19]

Acts 27:41-44 (NKJV)
41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels broken or incomplete? How might God be using those very pieces to bring about your deliverance or growth today?

Day 2: God Provides Refuge in Unexpected Places

Being stranded in an unfamiliar place can feel like abandonment, but God often uses unknown places and unexpected people to provide refuge and blessing. Paul and his companions found themselves on the island of Malta, a place they never intended to go, yet it became a place of safety and kindness. Sometimes, your safety and promotion are found in places and through people you never would have chosen, reminding you that God’s provision is not limited by your expectations. [21:44]

Acts 28:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.
2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

Reflection: Where in your life have you found unexpected help or kindness? Can you thank God today for the people and places He has used to bless you, even when you didn’t recognize it at first?

Day 3: The Enemy Attacks When You’re Advancing

The enemy often strikes when you are making progress or stepping into your calling. Paul was bitten by a viper not while he was idle, but when he was gathering wood to help build a fire. The attack came after the storm, not during it, and it targeted the one with God’s assignment. Sometimes, the challenges and attacks you face are not signs of failure, but confirmation that you are moving in the direction God has called you to go. [33:47]

Acts 28:3-6 (NKJV)
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”
5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Reflection: Is there an area where you are facing unexpected opposition or criticism as you step forward in faith? How can you see this as confirmation of your calling rather than a reason to give up?

Day 4: What Could Have Killed You Has No Authority

There are things in life that have the ability to harm you, but they do not have the authority to destroy you when God has a purpose for your life. Just as the viper’s bite did not kill Paul, and the cross could not keep Jesus in the grave, God’s power is greater than any attack or setback. The very hand that was bitten became the hand God used for healing, showing that hope remains even in what has been hurt. [46:40]

Romans 8:31 (ESV)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Reflection: Think of a time when you survived something that could have taken you out—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. How does remembering God’s protection in that moment give you courage for what you face today?

Day 5: You Don’t Look Like What You’ve Been Through

God’s grace not only brings you through trials, but also covers you so that you don’t look like what you’ve survived. Even after loss, pain, or anxiety, you can stand clothed in your right mind, a living testimony to God’s sustaining power. Your story is not just about survival, but about transformation and the invitation to relationship with Christ, who offers hope beyond the hardships. [48:00]

Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV)
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Reflection: In what ways has God’s grace covered you so that others can’t see the full extent of what you’ve endured? How can you share your testimony to encourage someone else today?

Sermon Summary

There are moments in life when we find ourselves in unfamiliar places, facing storms we never anticipated, and wondering if we’ll make it to the other side. Yet, God’s faithfulness is proven not just in what He allows us to survive, but in what He allows us to escape. Looking at Paul’s journey in Acts 27 and 28, we see a man who endured shipwreck, storms, and even a venomous snake bite, yet stood as a living testimony that it would take more than this to kill him. Sometimes, deliverance comes not in the preservation of what we thought we needed, but in the breaking apart of what we were depending on. God often does His best work with the broken pieces of our lives, showing us that our safety and our future are not tied to the vessel, but to His purpose and promise.

There are seasons when God gives us a destination without an itinerary. If we knew every trial ahead, we might have given up before we started. But God, in His wisdom, leads us step by step, sometimes allowing us to be stranded in places we never expected. Yet, even in those unknown places, He provides refuge and sends people—often strangers, sometimes those who don’t speak our language or share our background—to show us unusual kindness and help us survive. Our success is not just in the sunny days, but in learning to thrive even when the atmosphere is not conducive for building or growing.

The enemy often attacks when we are on the verge of something significant. The snake didn’t bite Paul until he was gathering wood for the fire—until he was active, until he was hot. The attacks and the bites are not always for our confusion, but sometimes for our confirmation. The enemy targets those with a call on their life, but what was meant to kill us becomes the very thing God uses to confirm His hand on us. The same hand that was bitten was later used to heal another. What the enemy meant for harm, God turns for good.

Through it all, we can declare, “I’m still here.” The things that had the ability to kill us did not have the authority. By God’s grace, we stand as living miracles, not looking like what we’ve been through. Our scars become testimonies, and our survival is evidence of God’s sustaining power. No matter what comes, it will take more than this to kill us, because God’s purpose and call on our lives are greater than any storm, any bite, or any broken piece.

Key Takeaways

1. God Does His Best Work with Broken Pieces Deliverance often comes not in the preservation of what we thought we needed, but in the breaking apart of what we depended on. Sometimes, the very thing we mourn as loss—be it a relationship, a job, or a dream—is the means by which God brings us to safety. He can do more with a piece than we ever could with the whole, and our testimony is often built on the fragments we thought were useless. [16:19]
2. Refuge in Unexpected Places and People God sometimes leads us to places we never planned to go, and provides for us through people we never expected to meet. Our safety and blessing may come from “unknown” sources—those who don’t look, talk, or act like us. This challenges us to recognize and appreciate the kindness and support that comes from outside our familiar circles, and to see God’s hand in every act of grace. [24:34]
3. The Enemy Attacks When You’re on Assignment The snake didn’t bite Paul until he was active, until he was gathering wood for the fire. The enemy often targets those who are moving in their calling, not those who are idle. The attacks you face are not always a sign of failure, but can be confirmation that you are on the right path and that God’s call on your life is real and significant. [33:47]
4. What Has the Ability Doesn’t Have the Authority There are things in life that have the potential to harm us, but they do not have the authority to end us unless God allows it. The same hand that was bitten was used for healing, showing that God can turn our wounds into instruments of blessing for others. Our survival is not just about making it through, but about being transformed and used by God in new ways. [46:40]
5. You Don’t Look Like What You’ve Been Through The grace of God covers us so completely that, despite all we’ve endured, we stand as living testimonies—clothed in our right minds, able to worship, able to serve. Our scars are not our shame, but our story. We can boldly declare, “I’m still here,” not because of our own strength, but because God’s purpose is greater than any storm, any bite, or any loss.

** [48:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Opening Prayer and Praise
[01:52] - Honoring Leadership and Community
[03:54] - Gratitude for Support and Family
[07:16] - If You Need It, God Got It
[08:37] - Setting the Text: Acts 28
[10:01] - Reading the Scripture
[11:35] - It Will Take More Than This to Kill Me
[15:32] - Deliverance in Broken Pieces
[17:18] - God’s Work in Our Brokenness
[19:40] - Destinations Without Itineraries
[21:44] - Stranded but Not Defeated
[24:34] - Blessings from Unexpected People
[29:14] - Building in Unfavorable Conditions
[31:54] - Stranded and Stricken, But Still Standing
[33:47] - The Bite of Confirmation
[36:41] - The Assignment and the Attack
[38:59] - The Enemy Strikes After the Storm
[41:21] - Surviving What Should Have Killed You
[44:41] - Worship and Declaration: Still Here
[46:40] - The Hand That Was Bitten Heals
[48:00] - You Don’t Look Like What You’ve Been Through

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “It Will Take More Than This to Kill Me”

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### Bible Reading

Acts 28:1-6 (NKJV)
Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

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### Observation Questions

According to Acts 28:2, how did the natives on Malta respond to Paul and the others after the shipwreck? What does the text say about their kindness?
What happened to Paul when he was gathering wood for the fire, and how did the people around him react? (Acts 28:3-4)
In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the significance of the ship breaking apart in Acts 27? [[15:32]]
What did Paul do after the snake bit him, and what was the outcome? (Acts 28:5-6)

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### Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God does His best work with pieces.” What does this mean in the context of Paul’s shipwreck and survival? How might this challenge our ideas about what “deliverance” looks like? [[16:19]]
The pastor mentions that sometimes God gives us a destination without an itinerary. Why might God choose not to reveal every step of the journey to us? [[19:40]]
The sermon points out that the enemy attacked Paul when he was “active” and “hot.” What does this suggest about spiritual attacks and the timing of challenges in our lives? [[33:47]]
The phrase “what has the ability doesn’t have the authority” is used in the sermon. How does this idea show up in Paul’s experience with the snake bite? [[41:21]]

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### Application Questions

The sermon says, “Sometimes your deliverance is in what He destroys.” Can you think of a time when something you depended on was taken away, but it ended up being for your good? How did God use the “broken pieces” in your life? [[16:19]]
Paul found refuge and kindness from people he didn’t know and who didn’t speak his language. Have you ever received help or kindness from an unexpected person or place? How did that experience shape your faith or perspective? [[24:34]]
The enemy attacked Paul when he was serving and gathering wood for the fire. Are there areas in your life where you feel more “attacked” when you are stepping out in faith or serving God? How do you usually respond in those moments? [[33:47]]
The sermon says, “What the enemy meant for harm, God turns for good.” Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to trust God to turn harm into good? What would it look like to trust Him with that? [[46:40]]
The pastor declared, “I’m still here.” Despite storms, shipwrecks, and snake bites, Paul survived and kept going. What are some things you’ve survived that could have taken you out? How can your survival be a testimony to others? [[44:41]]
The sermon challenges us to see our scars as testimonies, not shame. Is there a scar—physical, emotional, or spiritual—that you have been hiding? How might God want to use that as part of your story? [[48:00]]
The sermon says, “You don’t look like what you’ve been through.” How has God’s grace covered you in ways that others might not even know what you’ve survived? How can you share that story with someone this week? [[48:00]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for His faithfulness through storms, for the broken pieces He uses, and for the unexpected kindness He sends. Ask for courage to trust Him with the unknowns and to use your scars as testimonies of His sustaining power.

Sermon Clips

If you can't shout about what he let you survive, you ought to shout about what he let you escape, because I'm talking to somebody today who can testify you've been through some stuff that should have left you in the front of Metropolitan Baptist Church with the pastor saying for as much as it has pleased Almighty God to take out of this world our deceased brother or sister we therefore commit his or her body earth to earth ashes to ashes and dust to dust but when you think about that God let you escape what you could have died from you can testify come what may Reverend it's gonna take more than this to kill me. [00:12:30]

Sometimes God wants to show us, I can do more with a piece than you can with a whole. And I got a question for you, Metro, on this 22nd. How do you handle life when what you're riding in can't protect you from what you're riding on? [00:15:50]

God does his best work with pieces. How do you know your life been tore up from the floor? And it's been the broken pieces that God has taken. [00:16:23]

Sometimes your deliverance is in what he destroys. You thought it was really divorce. That was deliverance. You thought it was unemployment. That was deliverance. No, I need some help in here. You thought it was a bad friendship or a bad breakup. That was deliverance. [00:17:06]

The thing you taught me and taught all of us here at Metro today is that God often gives destinations without providing an itinerary. Why? Because if you knew what was next, you would have quit. [00:20:30]

God will sometimes allow you to find refuge in unknown places. Sometimes your safety is in places you didn't think you would end up. [00:22:14]

You proved over the last 22 years, even being sick, that you knew how to have success even when you've been stranded. You know why some of y 'all ain't shouting? Because you only know how to have success when it's sunny out. But I need some folks in here who've learned how even when you're in an unknown place to... [00:23:10]

Over these 22 years, he's used some unknown people to bless you. Hey, church. Hey, church. I am thankful for everybody who's been a blessing to me I don't know. I see you, mother. See, some of y 'all only clapped because of Pookie and Ray Ray and T -Bone them who you know helped you. But I'm talking to the people who were cheering for you you didn't even know. [00:24:11]

I am so grateful that God will send people to help me survive who don't talk like I talk. Wait, hey, Eric Tyrone Dixon, you know why they ain't shouting Jennifer Reed? Because y 'all don't know how I talk all the time. Unlike y 'all, pray for me. I don't always use church words. [00:25:26]

He proves he will send people to stand by you when it's stormy. [00:26:53]

God sent you some people that was willing to build even when the atmosphere wasn't conducive for building. [00:29:36]

See the problem why y 'all didn't shout is because too many of us want other people invest more in our miracle than ourselves. [00:31:43]

Here's the issue can I say something to you bro and I pray you get it it's interesting the snake never bit Paul until Paul got hot meaning as long as you ain't doing nothing you're not soon soon as you stepping down for moderator to become president stricken... [00:32:58]

There were 275 other people the snake could have bitten and he only bites the one that has the call on his life because sometimes bites are not for confusion they're for confirmation. [00:34:02]

When you have the call it's the enemy's job to try to stop you from doing whatever God has called you to and the enemy thought that if it bit Paul that Paul wouldn't stand before Caesar but God said you're gonna stand before. [00:34:47]

The reason you got hit is because you're the one who had the assignment to score. [00:38:04]

Although it had the ability to kill you, it didn't have the authority. [00:41:43]

If you keep reading the same hand that got bit, God used for Paul to lay hand on Publius' daddy, and he got healed. There is always hope in what God lets get hurt. [00:46:54]

Thank God I don't look like what I've been through. [00:47:39]

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