Do Christians believe in Destiny?

Should we believe in destiny not just as human beings, but as Christians? Should we see destiny in the same way as the world?

That's what we invite you to find out in this article. We're going to cover a number of topics to find out if a Christian believes in destiny.

Before we do, we invite you to watch the video below to learn more about the hidden meaning of the word “destiny” :

Calling on 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 the events and steps in a person's life leading up to the day of revelation of that calling are stepping stones to the destiny of pursuing said calling.

There are many examples in the Bible where this proves true, and it can encourage us in today's world to consider that our starting bases, however bleak, are stepping stones to a great calling.

Consider Joseph, the Dreamer of the Book of Genesis. The call to his life came to him at an early 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, in fact, his destiny. His brothers were not so eager to see this calling realized and, in an act of anger, sold him into slavery. Joseph probably wondered if the call he felt from God was still relevant, or had he been sold with his freedom?

Over time, 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 wasn't over yet. Over time, 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 country, his brothers found themselves exactly as shown in the previous night's vision.

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 a life is destiny, but consider that it often requires strength and wisdom to live the path that leads to that destiny. Holding firmly to the truth of what Joseph said in Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, so that many people might be kept alive, as is the case today.”

Life, man or unforeseen events will inevitably arise in the course of a caller's life and entry into destiny, but hold out hope that God can bring good out of the situation. If it's not good, it's not the end of the story.

Answering your call

Entering destiny isn't always clear or clearly marked, often the path ahead only casts a sliver of light, so how do we know we're heading in the right direction?

This is where a solid, rich relationship with God becomes imperative. A relationship with God should not consist in the hope of receiving blessings, power or anything else, but rather allow you to truly enter the arms of the Creator who created you and get to know His heart better.

In the course of knowing His heart, who you are will also shine through, for it is His joy to share and connect with His child. That's why it's important not to make your own plans without consulting Him first.

Proverbs 16:9 says: “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord fixes 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'll find yourself lost and detached.

Often, destiny is one where God has a road map or GPS for you to follow. Directions will sometimes feel like they're going indefinitely with no destination in sight, but if you leave the road or take a shortcut, He hasn't suggested that you'll find yourself further behind.

God's way may not always be preferable at the time, but in hindsight it will prove to be the right way. If you feel 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 respond immediately or in the way we would expect. God's answers bring peace, not anxiety.

Rest in his ability to help you get to where you should be, when you should be there. Remember, too, that every good story will have ups and downs, unexpected turns and surprises, and that God is the greatest writer of all.

To enter your destiny, you must be willing to abandon what you had planned for your life and embark on the adventure He wants to undertake with you.

How does free will play a role in destiny?

The typical counter-current 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 granted every human the ability to make decisions and act on their own, but God doesn't 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 because Jonah had rejected his destiny. God is not a Father who abandons his children so easily, and over the next few days Jonah literally found himself in a tricky situation.

During those days held captive in the belly of an aquatic beast, Jonah was able to regain a clear, centered head, and freely chose to obey God and enter his destiny to share the truth with Nineveh.

For many, even when these moments present themselves, man will still ignore 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've rejected or turned down opportunities in the past, it's not too late. Repent and come to God with an honest heart and see that His heart is welcoming and full of love.

God hasn't given up on Jonah, and he wants to guide you to your destiny too. It's not too late.

How does God's will affect a Christian's destiny?

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 in fact destiny itself.

Psalm 139 reminds us of this: “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 Kingdom's destiny 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 about His will, and we too are blessed in the midst of it.

Consider Romans 8:28: “He works all things together for His good and for man's benefit.” Destiny is inevitable, but it's up to us to give God our yes and not fall behind. He has been faithful to carry out His plans before, and He won't stop now.

There are no limits

Our lives are not limited to one great adventure or one great story of destiny.

It's evident throughout the Bible that God has provided specific moments intended for specific purposes in the lives of His children. This is clear from 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 in 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 while 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 didn't expect to be, that's when we can live to the best of our ability to cultivate what's 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 for multiple adventures in the future.

Micah 6:8 reminds us that in those moments when we are in the unknown, we must do what He has called of us, walk humbly, live righteously and follow the Lord.

Perhaps 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 He has in mind, and don't be afraid to present Him with your own ideas.

Walking with God and collaborating with Him to develop your own abilities and passions may be the key to many a story to tell.

Moses arrived in a land of shepherds and lived that life well, and in time, God would lead him to shepherd His people. You never know what doors God may open for you when you seize these opportunities.

Note that Moses and Joseph didn't have a single job to do to live out their great 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 over the course of 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 so in many different capacities.

God created our big hearts, deep desires and world-changing passions. Don't feel limited to having “one thing” define your whole 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 seedlings as they grow.

Storms, droughts or unpredictable events will almost always seek to hinder or diminish the harvest, but that's not the end of the story. Whether on this side of Heaven or not, God will realize a harvest of goodness and destiny when we place our trust in Him.

Believe in the destiny of your life and know that it goes beyond the destiny of your life, for it is part of the whole body of Christ's Kingdom and the destiny of God's eternal reign.