Destiny: Defined and Described

Many people live their entire lives giving no thought to their destiny. They neglect to see that their destiny is connected to everything they think, feel, and do. Once they embrace their destiny, they will understand how their lives are aligned.

On the other hand, there are people who are so obsessed with their destiny and what will happen in the future that they fail to enjoy the present.

When people fully understand their destiny, they will find it easy to see the balance between their present and their future.

Destiny: Defined

There are many ways to define and describe the word “destiny.” Wikipedia defines destiny as “a predetermined course of events.” It may be understood as a predetermined future. That's a start toward understanding one's destiny. However, there is more information about destiny than that.

Most dictionaries define destiny as all the events that will happen to a particular person or thing in the future. In other words, destiny is the pre-ordained path of your life, whether you embrace it or not.

Everyone Has a Destiny

One of the first things to consider is that everyone has a destiny. Every person is born with a purpose. That is something everyone is destined to do. We will never be fully satisfied until we do it.

Everyone who is living and breathing on this earth has a destiny. A destiny is not inherited or something you can buy. So, don't ever think that only wealthy people have a destiny. Don't think that when a person gets old, he no longer has a destiny. As long as a person lives and breathes, he has a destiny.

We come into this world with the basic tools we need to fulfill our destiny. God is such an awesome God that He gave us the right personality, certain talents, strengths, and gifts that are uniquely ours.

Then God placed opportunities in our path to help us live purposefully.

Your Destiny is Older Than You Are

Your destiny didn't just start yesterday. According to Jeremiah 1:5, your destiny was established BEFORE God formed you in the womb. That means your destiny is older than you are.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5).

Your destiny wasn't planned overnight, and it will not be fulfilled overnight. Your destiny will happen over a lifetime. Nobody's destiny is microwavable. There is no quick way to start and finish one's destiny while on this earth.

Think of your destiny like that line on the monitor in the hospital. As long as there is movement, your destiny is still intact. If there is a flat line without any movement, then your destiny on this earth is complete.

Your destiny is your life’s journey.

General and Particular Destinies

Some people say they don't know what their destiny is. There are general destinies that all people have. Then there are different destinies based on the specific assignment we were born to do.

General Destinies

Everyone has the same destiny that can be likened to the Golden Rule. Everyone has to help God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Particular Destinies

God gave us different ways to fulfill our destiny based on our individual gifts and talents. Opportunities gravitate toward us when we work toward our own destiny.

Therefore, if all of us did what we are destined to do, then our destinies would coincide. Fulfilling our own destiny means we are doing what we were born to do.

You Can't Live Out Other People's Destiny

You might look at others and admire the way they live. You might want to have the same destiny they have. However, we all have our own destiny, and it would be a bad mistake to try to take over someone else's.

That's why there are so many sick, depressed, and stressed people among us. They are not providing nutrition and nourishment to their own destiny because they are too busy trying to feed into somebody else's destiny, for which they are not equipped.

Our longings will NEVER be satisfied until we work toward fulfilling our own destiny.

Clues Surrounding Your Destiny

If you are still not convinced that you have a destiny, here are some clues to help you determine what your destiny is.

My high school yearbook indicated what my life's journey would be. Part of my destiny was to write on Vocal.Media long before Vocal.Media existed.

I write today because I was destined to write. I am an ordained minister because I was destined to be one.

Look in your high school yearbook and read the positive comments your teachers and classmates said about you.

Look at family photos of you when you were growing up. Were you always playing with a toy telephone or banging on pots and pans with kitchen utensils? Those things could provide clues to what you would become when you grow up.

Survey: Do you know what your destiny is?

• 67% YES
• 33% NO

About the Author

Rev. Margaret Minnicks is an ordained Minister of Christian Education and Bible Teacher. She writes biblical and motivational articles. Please subscribe to read similar articles.