

Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 26, 2024
Should we believe in destiny not only as human beings, but as Christians ? Should we see destiny the same way the world does?
This is what we invite you to discover in this article. We will cover several topics to find out if a Christian believes in destiny .
Before, we invite you to watch the video below to learn more about the hidden meaning of the word "destiny":
Call upon a life
A common expression that often revolves around the Church is the idea of feeling called to do something or having a calling towards a certain profession, job or path.
This calling is often interchangeable with the word destiny in that all events and stages in a person's life leading up to the day of the revelation of this calling are stepping stones to the destiny of pursuing said calling.
There are many examples in the Bible where this is true, and it can encourage us in today's world to see our starting points, however dark, as stepping stones to a great calling.
Consider Joseph , the Dreamer of the Book of Genesis. The call to his life was given to him at a young age through a dream. In the dream, it was revealed to him that he would stand above his brothers in power.
It could be said that this calling to leadership was actually his destiny. His brothers were not as eager to see this call come to fruition and, in an act of anger, they sold him into slavery. Joseph probably wondered if the call he felt from God was still relevant, or if he had been sold along with his freedom?
As time went on, Joseph would find himself in other difficult situations that only added to the fear that the call on his life would be lost, but the story was not over yet. As time went on, God placed Joseph in certain opportunities where he was equipped with the talents and abilities God gave him to fulfill his calling.
In fact, he became Pharaoh's right-hand man in Egypt, and when a famine struck the land, his brothers found themselves exactly as had been shown in the vision the previous night.
Joseph’s destiny proved true, but it was strengthened by the journey he endured to get there. He learned what it meant to be a good and kind leader, and he learned how and when to use what God had given him as a gift with good discernment.
A call to life is a destiny, but one must consider that it often requires strength and wisdom to live the path that leads to that destiny. Holding fast to the truth of what Joseph said in Genesis 50:20 : “As for you, you intended evil against me, but God intended it for good, that he might bring many people are kept alive, as is the case today."
Life, man or unforeseen events will inevitably occur during the course of living a calling and entering destiny, but keep hope that God can bring some good out of the situation. If it is not good, it is not the end of the story.
Answer your call
Entering destiny is not always clear or clearly marked, often the path to follow only projects a fragment of light, so how can we know that we are going in the right direction?
This is where a strong and rich relationship with God becomes imperative. A relationship with God should not be about hoping to receive blessings, power, or anything else, but rather about allowing you to truly enter into the arms of the Creator who created you and to know His heart better.
In the process of knowing His heart, who you are will also shine through, for it is His joy to share and connect with His child. This is why it is important not to make your own plans without consulting Him first.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts they plan their way, but the LORD directs their steps.” God has a good plan for your life, but when you try to steer the ship, lead the way, or take the lead without consulting Him, you will find yourself lost and detached.
Often times, destiny is where God has a road map or GPS that you can follow. The directions will sometimes seem like they go on forever with no destination in sight, but if you leave the road or take a shortcut, He has not suggested that you will end up even further behind.
God’s way may not always be best at the time, but in hindsight it will prove to be the right way. If you sense that God has placed a dream in your heart, go to Him with that dream.
Connect with Him and be aware that He doesn’t always answer immediately or in the way we would expect. God’s answers bring peace, not anxiety .
Rest in His ability to help you get where you need to be, when you need to be there. Also remember that every good story will have ups and downs, unexpected turns and surprises and that God is the greatest writer of all.
To step into your destiny, you must be willing to let go of what you had planned for your life and embark on the adventure He wants to take with you.
How does free will play a role in destiny?
The typical counter to the idea that we each have a destiny is the concept of free will, but in fact the two work hand in hand.
Yes, God has given every human the ability to make decisions and act for themselves, but God does not leave man alone. Take for example the story of Jonah.
Jonah was a prophet of the Lord called to serve God by warning the people of Nineveh that they would surely be punished if they did not change their ways and follow the One True God. Jonah, in an act of free will, rejected this call on his life and literally ran in the other direction.
God could have chosen someone else to go to Nineveh at this point because Jonah had truly rejected his destiny. God is not a Father who abandons His children so easily, and over the next few days, Jonah literally finds himself in a predicament.
During those days held captive in the belly of a water beast, Jonah was able to regain a clear and centered mind, and freely chose to obey God and enter into his destiny to share the truth with Nineveh.
For many, even when these moments arise, man will still be ignorant of what God has to offer, but for others, they will take heed and not miss the opportunity to be blessed.
Know that even if you have rejected or rejected opportunities in the past, it is not too late. Repent and come to God with an honest heart and see that His heart is welcoming and full of love.
God has not abandoned Jonah and He also wants to guide you to your destiny. It is not too late.
How does God's will affect the destiny of a Christian?
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus reminded us that God's Will must be done on earth as it is in Heaven. This means that despite the plots and actions of the Enemy, and even despite our failures and shortcomings, the Lord's Will will indeed be done.
Christians should believe in destiny, because God's Will and plans are actually destiny in themselves.
Psalm 139 reminds us: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them was created.” God has plans for us and for His Kingdom.
It is the destiny of the Kingdom to reign forever, far beyond the ages of Heaven and Earth ( Matthew 24:35 ). Knowing this brings to the forefront the joy that when we partner with God, He works to bring His will to pass, and we too are blessed in the midst of it.
Consider Romans 8:28 : “He works all things together for his own good and for man’s benefit.” Destiny is inevitable, but it is up to us to give God our yes and not fall behind. He has been faithful to work out His plans before, and He will not stop now.
There are no limits
Our lives are not limited to one great adventure or one great story of destiny.
It is evident throughout the Bible that God has planned specific times for specific purposes in the lives of His children. This is evident in the life of Moses.
His story begins with him being sent as a baby down a river in a basket found by Pharaoh's daughter. He was raised as an adopted king, but over time he runs away because he killed an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew, a member of Moses' people. Moses escapes to Midian and probably for a time wondered what his life would hold, or felt frustrated and stuck in what his life had become.
His life seemed to indicate that he would live in royalty, but he found himself working as a shepherd. When we find ourselves in such a place where we feel stuck or where we did not expect to be, that is where we can live to the best of our ability to cultivate what is before us in season.
Moses didn’t know that God would later call him to lead his people out of Egypt, but he didn’t fall into disarray in Midian. He lived his life in Midian honoring God, exploring possibilities, and growing as a person without knowing that God would take everything he had experienced and use it in multiple adventures in the future.
Micah 6:8 reminds us that in times of uncertainty, we are to do what He has called us to do: walk humbly, live righteously, and follow the Lord.
Maybe God is giving you the freedom to explore with Him to take you to a land you never imagined. Don't limit your future to your current situation.
Ask Him to help you reveal what is on His mind and don't be afraid to present your own ideas to Him.
Walking with God and partnering with Him to develop your own abilities and passions may be the key to many stories to tell.
Moses came to a land of shepherds and he lived that life well, and over time God would bring him to shepherd his people. You never know what doors God can open for you when you take advantage of those opportunities.
Notice that Moses and Joseph didn’t have a single job to do to live out their high calling; it was a myriad of opportunities and choices that led them there. And even once Jonah had finished his work as a prophet, that didn’t mean his life was meaningless for the rest of his days.
Your calling can take many different forms throughout your life. You may think your calling was to be a teacher because of your desire to raise children, but then you find yourself able to do it in many different capacities.
God created our hearts big, our desires deep, and our passions that changed the world. Don’t feel limited to having “one thing” that defines your entire life.
For Joseph, Jonah, and Moses, it was their commitment to doing God's will that shaped their lives, rather than their commitment to a job or station.
God wants to partner with you to create something incredible .
Destiny begins as a seed of hope or a dream, and like any good harvest, it requires proper gardening. The Lord's waters of hope and light will nourish these young plants as they grow.
Storms, droughts, or unpredictable events will almost always seek to slow or diminish the harvest, but that is not the end of the story. Whether it is this side of Heaven or not, God will bring forth a harvest of goodness and destiny when we place our trust in Him.
Believe in the destiny of your life and know that it is greater than the destiny of your life, because it is part of the whole body of the Kingdom of Christ and the destiny of the eternal reign of God.
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