Second, anchored by God’s plan and purpose. The second anchor in a time of crisis is found in Acts 27:24, where Paul quotes God’s angel: ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ In other words, ‘You’re on board this ship because I have a purpose for your being here. And my eternal purpose for your life is greater than this temporary storm.’ Have you discovered your God-given purpose yet? You’re not here on earth simply to take up space; God has a specific plan for you. The storm you’re caught in right now is just a temporary setback. Absolutely nothing can change God’s plan for your life unless you choose to disobey Him. And yes, you can do that. But the Scriptures teach that no outside person or force can change God’s plan for your life or alter His divine purpose as long as you’re willing to say, ‘Lord, I want to do your will.’ As surely as God told Paul, ‘You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you,’ He is saying to you, ‘I will bring you through this storm.’ When you focus on your God-given purpose, He empowers you to overcome your problems. That’s why Paul wrote: ‘I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
