In this article “Destiny pursuit – A Cry for Purpose” I will be using some Bible passages to share a heartfelt issue which you need to give serious attention to. I don’t intent to join in any argument or doctrinal controversies; my intention is to help someone find purpose and fulfilment in life.
“You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there, you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began. O God, how difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are.” Psalm – 139:13-17 (NGT)
In the scriptures quoted above, it is clear that God knows every detail about us. We did not “just happen”, we were made. We were made for a purpose and to achieve a purpose. That purpose is very clear in God’s mind. I find a lot of comfort knowing that God made me, that God loves me and that he proved his love to me through the death of Jesus Christ.
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm100:3 (KJV).
Many people spend a life time searching for destiny as if it is a destination in itself. The cry of many people is to find purpose. The pursuit of this “illusion” has kept many people struggling, unproductive and depressed. We must take a holistic view of life and God’s plans for all creation if we hope to understand purpose.
Knowing your purpose in life is good but it does not reduce the challenge of attaining it. For example, early in life, I know I had to go to school to learn to read and write; to learn skills and improve my talents. This knowledge of my purpose at that time did not reduce the burden associated with learning and training; I worked very hard to discipline myself in many areas of life to attain my goal. I lost my father quite early and my mother had to bring up six of us. That was very difficult in a third world country. Going to school was expensive and a struggle for many people. I consciously had to trust God for everything and he always intervened, he never failed; I have earned a master’s degree with his help.
Most times we allow ourselves to think of life issues as if we made ourselves, as if we had a choice in our being here and as if we can do anything to remain here on earth. All we can really do is making the most of our time here on earth; living to the glory of God and being a blessing to humanity.
Many “great” people of God like Moses, Samson, Elijah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Paul the Apostle knew what their purposes were but they were human too and had low momentsand some of them even questioned why they were here and what their existence really meant; some of them wanted to do “extra things”, things that other people were commissioned to do. That’s awful really but true; are we ever satisfied with whom we are or what we have?
John questioned his purpose when he sent people to ask Jesus to verify his identify.
“And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?
When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?” Luke 7:19-20 (KJV)
I am sure John’s parents told him what God told them before he was born; he experienced God from childhood – from the womb. He was the great revivalist of his time. He did what he was called to do – he announced Jesus! Yet John the Baptist questioned his purpose and destiny. Consider ApostlePaul; his calling was clear. He wrote about it himself, Luke wrote about it in Acts of the Apostles; He was the apostle to the gentles. However, he devoted a lot of time trying to go to the Jews; a mission that brought reproach, rejection and pain to him always.
Samson was in a class of his own in demonstration of the power of the Spirit of God. He lived in and out of struggles. He had failed relationships and died trying to show love to a “cheat”, Delilah, who betrayed him.
You may not have the privilege to have a voice declaring your destiny and purpose, many people are like you. You don’t have to lament endlessly and sometimes feel useless. Start from where you are and with what you have. You don’t need anyone’s approval do what God has called you to do. You may need support but if it doesn’t come, start with what you have. Many years ago, I known the hand of the Lord was on me to do certain things; some people I shared it with gave me a lot of encouragement; some others thought I needed their approval to fulfil those things. I attended meetings where people paid so much attention to titles and positions; meanwhile, I had miracles taking place and souls being won to Christ. I didn’t need any person approval or title to pray for anyone to be healed (if the person in need asks me to pray for him or her), I didn’t need titles to talk to someone about Jesus. Men can appoint you to a post but it is only God that can position you for success. I have been an ordained minister for many years now and I know that everything has its place and purpose but ultimately every man and woman is what God made him or her to be and God doesn’t make failures.
Destiny and purpose can be very subtle; it is such that sometimes if you know what they are, you may be very disappointed, if you not careful. Ananias prayed for Paul’s healing and declared God’s counsel to him, there were no great writings about him anymore after that. How would you feel if your whole purpose is to just to give a little help to needy children in a remote third world country? I know people who at this moment pastor churches in very remote countryside; they may never have millions of people as members and may never own a T.V ministry. God needs them there.
The search for destiny starts with discovering God. Progress is made as you study the word of God, hear and obey him. You will discover destiny and purpose as you learn to follow him. What he asks of you may be big or small. Find joy in doing your bit. Sometimes you may have a long time assignment and sometimes it may be a little at a time. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts and he knows what role God wants us to fill. Many times we feel like doing the great things, that is good but then it boils down to the grace for service given to every person “As the scripture says, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. Shall we say, then, that God is unjust? Not at all. For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish. So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God’s mercy. For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world.” Romans 9:13-17. (NGT).
God bless you.
Ref. Biblegateway.com