Purposeful Destiny
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
The word DESTINY means many things to each of us. The second definition of destiny is “the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events.” Curious. Who predetermines, why is destiny inevitable – a course of events? Recently I heard in a study of Esther that our destiny is to know God. “And you shall know I am the Lord your God.“
William Jennings Bryant is quoted saying, “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” And yet, Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Today (last Tuesday
) we took our daughter, Anna, to Tulsa to fly to California. We see all four of our children infrequently, so it was a triple pleasure to have Tim from Illinois, Rebekah (granddaughter) from Omaha and Anna from California here to celebrate Dad/Grandpa’s birthday. Why are we separated by so many miles? (The Lord determines our steps) What holds us together as a family? It is more than blood. It is a legacy of faith in God from many generations.
Acts 11:26 – From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
Distance and circumstance cannot separate us. As we traveled the few hours to Tulsa, I wonder about my Mother, who seldom saw her parents in Kansas. A trip in a Model T or A was a day long affair. Only for about a year did Ed and I live near my parents. We may have planned many things, yet, they did not always come to be, for the Lord determined our steps.
For three months, Ed was in Viet Nam in the early 70’s. Internet and cell phones were still not available, but mail was. When I wrote a letter asking a question, I did not receive the answer for four weeks. Then I was so overcome with emotion, I asked my children to read the letter first before I read and re-read the letter. I think of my ancestors who traveled to United States, leaving family behind in Russia. Not only was the trip long and arduous, but minute to minute cryptic texts via the cell phone/email that I enjoyed today, and when our son and granddaughter traveled home, were not available then.
This took faith, trust and knowing God to be content and knowing that God is over all, all powerful and all knowing. He knows us….. “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16.
Just as God knows us, a family knows each other. I know my children, and they know me and their Dad. We love each other unconditionally, just as God loves us. Unconditional love takes many beginnings and re-beginnings. It takes prayer.
Lamentation 3:22-23 – Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
It is a mystery – this knowing God. It takes listening, it takes communication, it takes trust. When this knowing, listening, trusting and communication takes place with our Lord, then we have fulfilled our destiny. Not once, but every moment of the day.
My Grandmother Suderman wrote: How many sweet memories of all my friends young and old. Just to remember them over and over is a joy. Oh, all the precious memories could not be bought at any price. Not for millions would I trade all the wonderful memories of the past. And I have the best to look for yet – to go to heaven. It hurt deeply to give up our dearly loved ones (four babies), yet God kept us and comforted us, so we could bear it together.
I can see her yet as she waved goodbye from the assisted living home that was her residence. Still she had an open door to her room to all who wanted to visit. Her room contained a bed, a chair with a hand crocheted doily, pretty glassware, pictures of her Mother and Father, and baby Daniel. I compared it with the dirt floor, wood stove and small windows of the home that she lived in when she first married. She lived her life in faith and hope of our Lord. She gave thanks for what she had then. She settled in, whitewashing the dirt floor each week to make it clean. She used newsprint, folded, to cut ‘lace’ curtains for the windows. Always she gave thanks and sought the Lord for guidance.
What a legacy of faith she gave us. And this faith strengthened her through all manner of trouble. She achieved her destiny by knowing God and imparting her faith in Jesus Christ to all with her words, her patience, her unconditional love and her giving of herself to others.
We, too, must know God with heart-knowledge and put our faith in Him who is steadfast and able. To me, destiny means how I love and serve Him where He has placed me, with the gifts He has given me, in the number of days He has purposed. Blessed be His Name!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2