The War for Our Destiny

We were thrilled as we looked upon our tiny twin granddaughters for the first time. Most people seem to want their twins to be identical. Yet my daughter wanted hers to be fraternal, with different physical features and personalities. Five months later it seems that she is getting her wishes come true. Mallory is dark headed with full lips and a zest for adventure. She takes on a curious and eager gaze as stimuli present before her. Even her two-year-old brother doesn’t seem to scare her, even though he has playfully caused slight bumps and hurtful squeezes.

    Fair headed little Morgan is quite different. Born a minute later, her personality seems more like the timid follower. While she coos and smiles as others approach, she appears more cautious and definitely more on guard as her brother approaches. She seems to remember his impulsive and sometimes painful attempts to hug her. Her more delicate features seem to match her more quiet and hesitant countenance.

    We parents are front row viewers of the journey that our children take as they develop into who they are going to be. As each of us holds our newborn and gaze into his or her face, we likely don’t even register how risky his or her journey will be. We don’t think about the war for our children’s’ destiny that is taking place from their conception. As we gaze adoringly, we don’t picture him or her as a strung out drug addict, as a selfish and arrogant man, as a depressed and defeated woman, or as an angry and vindictive adult. We don’t contemplate them filled with worry and fear, as feeling rejected by others, or full of self-hatred.

    Similarly, our Creator didn’t picture us as cursed and dejected either. He had great plans for us, like we do for our children. Yet, the journey to become who God had intended us to be will be filled with forces that impede our growth and development. The frustrations of life, the hurt from other people, and the frailty of our own bodies can challenge our progression. The most deadly risk comes from evil itself. While God’s plans are for us to prosper to reflect the splendor of his character, Satan’s devices are to derail us into painful and destructive people who reflect his cruel traits or to be defeated, frightened, and sad.

    Uncovering our emotional and spiritual needs and how to deal with hurt equips us to pursue being the whole and fulfilled person we were created to be. Being thus equipped enables us to live intentionally. When we don’t live intentionally, we drift through life as if on a current that takes us wherever it flows. We may assume that we will like where we end up. What a risky assumption to make since we are not in heaven. Living intentionally, we monitor and choose wisely how we deal with needs and hurts and this promotes our lives towards a healthy destination.

    We don’t want to be consumed with fear, yet we sure don’t want to be unwise in not being equipped in the war for our destiny.