And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Acts 27:20-25 (KJV)
Tempests, trepidation, loss of hope, no Sun nor star light was visible for many days, appetite for food gone. Then stood up a prisoner preacher amid men who have lost every hope for living and said, be of good cheer. How can this be? And how can his voice, himself being in the same doomed ship, draw the attention and uplift the spirits of these doomed men in a doomed voyage? Because he has been cheered from another world. Cheer is fading from the world; entertainments have become sterile to cheer any. But there is a voice of cheer coming from another world. Be of good cheer!