YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION!

Take courage!  None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.  For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar!’…So take courage!  For I believe God.  It will be just as he said.  Acts 27:22-25 (NLT)
 
Today’s message is simple, despite the present difficulties, everything will work out just as the Lord has said concerning your life!  Many times we may get a word from the Lord, have a dream, or even read in the Scriptures how things will work out positively in our lives.  God may have stated that your body would be healed, that you will go into ministry, that your child’s life will turn around, that you will be promoted, or that your marriage will be restored!  God already knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and it will be as He had said.  In today’s verse of Scripture, Paul could be encouraged because he knew that since God had stated he would go to Rome, that he would get there despite the current typhoon like storm he encountered (Acts 27:14).  Like Paul, we too can be encouraged in the midst of our present storms that we will arrive at our destination successfully as well. 
 
I have experienced this many times.  One time I was leaving the United States headed to London for 4 days and then on to visit a friend in Italy for 5 days.  Prior to my trip, I had a dream that I walked into my friend’s house in Italy and that the ceiling of that first room was constructed with wooden beams.  Also in the dream, her young daughter walked up and greeted me by my name.  I then woke up from the dream. 
 
When I actually left the United States headed for London, our plane encountered a storm brewing in the Atlantic Ocean that caused us to experience very severe turbulence!  Even though I have flown many places throughout the years especially while serving in the Air Force, it felt as if the plane could literally go down into the Ocean!  Nonetheless, I remembered the dream God gave me of me arriving safely in Italy into my friend’s home.  Ultimately, Paul and all the other passengers arrived safely on shore (Acts 27:44).  Like Paul, I arrived safely to my destination as well!  When we are in the midst of a storm, we must hold on to the Word God has given us!  Often, God gives us that Word knowing that we will encounter a storm and so that we can be encouraged in the midst of it knowing that we are coming out victoriously on the other side.  In the end, God always causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14) and we will reach the destination He has promised safely!