Best-laid Plans . . . .

Application

The “experts” may agree on a course of action, but God the Holy Spirit always will lead to better results.
The storm does not determine the LORD’s will. The storm reminds believers to remain true to the LORD’s already communicated will.
Even the unsaved can heed godly advice, especially based upon personal relationship, having seen intent, and noting recent history.
When the LORD keeps His people safe from harm, sometimes a great many others also are safe because of God’s grace and mercy.
Conclusion: Jer. 29:11 (NASB) “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

Bible Text

(1) When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. (2) And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. (3) The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. (4) From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. (5) When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. (6) There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. (7) When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; (8) and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

(9) When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, (10) and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” (11) But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. (12) Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
-Acts 27:1-12 (NASB)