When God Rewrites Your Destiny
“Every outcome of every challenge should reveal how God supplies the grace to make it through the seemingly impossible. ”— Father Leo Patalinghug
How many of you have made plans for your life, only to face a plot twist, dramatically changing your storyline? It could be something like a relationship ending, or you unexpectedly lose your job. It could be more tragic like the death of a loved one, or a divorce that inevitably reroutes your dreams. Maybe it’s something less dramatic but still really difficult, like a move to a new city or the crossroads of determining what move is supposed to happen next.
Most of us have faced some kind of turning point in our lives, perhaps even more than one and some worse than others; nevertheless, any kind of turning point forces us to do what we don’t want — learn how to navigate the changing of seasons or shifts. If you’re like me, you’ve found yourself in those times with a desperate desire to cling onto something, only to find there is nothing for you to cling onto…
That is until you learn it’s not about clinging on. It’s about climbing up and overcoming.
I’m the person who likes to have a sense of control. I will determine what I want and plan out the steps to get there. I always have a backup plan. I usually have a backup plan to the backup plan.
Part of my walk with God has been him teaching me how to move forward blindfolded. I was at a conference last weekend, and pastor Bill Johnson said something that sunk in: “God does not hide something from you, He hides something for you”. He gave the analogy of when he hides easter eggs for his grandchildren during the holidays, and watches with just as much pleasure as the kids are having finding the eggs. God likes when we figure things out with his leading. We often long for that clear word from him or some sign from heaven that is like an obvious “Turn Right” signal, protecting us from the qualms of failure. God is more fun that that. He may do this, but once you learn to hear his voice, He will take you on an adventure, giving you insight and wisdom into things you can’t see with just your naked eye. He will trust you with more, and you will be opened up to a world far bigger than your own safe bubble.
I’ll give you an example. My resume is interesting, I guess you could say. I’ve worked in hotels, then at tourism bureaus, then I left that to go into missions, came home because my mom got sick and passed away, took a job with a private jet company, started my own company, and have now come back to my first love of writing. I mean, interviews have been entertaining, with employers looking at me a bit perplexed. I can truly say I understand this quote by Maya Angelou far more now than ever before:
“You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all.”
A year ago I realized how unhappy I was with what I was pursuing. More than that, I was unhappy within my soul. I felt so depressed, ashamed, sad, resentful…I couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to be something I’m not and feeling bad for that. The journey to learning God’s voice and His ways can be really trying — you will wrestle and yell and get confused. Yet regardless of these internal battles, you will come out and be complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4). This is because you will KNOW love. God’s love chases you, He’s after you.
I used to be a trapped person inside of a cage, unable to find the way out. Today I am imperfect but free. Really free to understand and know who I belong to and where I am going. I have nothing to prove. I have nothing to control. It’s a wonderful place to be. I have no fear in convincing an employer I will be their best asset, just because I know God is with me and I understand who He is in my life.
You will be surprised how much people want God on their side. Company owners, sales teams, story tellers — He is the X factor and when someone comes in with a boldness that is from the innermost being, people take notice.
If this was a year ago, I wouldn’t even apply for half the jobs I currently have because I would’ve immediately said “I’m not qualified”. If you make yourself available to be used by God, He will make the way before you. He qualifies you.
He will accelerate your call especially for the years and time you perceived as lost.
Plot twists have a way of bringing you back to your original design. Lost dreams. Forgotten dreams. Embrace the changes because they will help you get to the path you once dreamt of before you were sidetracked running down the wrong one just because someone told you to.
God is in the business of making your dreams come true. Write them down, try to remember them. What was it you dreamt of before disappointment came into the picture?
“The hero’s journey always begins with the call. One way or another, a guide must come to say, ‘Look, you’re in Sleepy Land. Wake. Come on a trip. There is a whole aspect of your consciousness, your being, that’s not been touched. So you’re at home here? Well, there’s not enough of you there.’ And so it starts.”
— Joseph Campbell
Originally published at www.thedtrblog.com.
