Just where is my life heading? What does the future has for me? Why am I poor? Is there a way out of my present predicaments? If yes, when? How? And what time will that be? The above questions knew no boundaries whenever we are facing challenges in this life. Unfortunately, when everything seems to be going well with us no one remembers there is a destiny. In my research on this convoluted and often misconstrue subject, I have come to a reasonable conclusion that it does exist and it has a large role to play in our everyday lives till we breath our last in this life!

According to the Encarta dictionary; the word Destiny, has three definitions;

• The apparently predetermined and inevitable series of events that happen to somebody or something;
• The inner purpose of a life that can be discovered and realized and;
• A force or agency that predetermines what will happen.

The first and last definitions are the widely accepted view on what destiny really stands for. I don’t know how it (destiny) shapes our respective lives but it is one of the most misunderstood subjects in human history! In the beginning, the word destiny has been linked to be under the influence of a Supernatural Being (God) under the Biblical catch phrase, “It Is Written” or in the general world view that “What Will Be, Will Be.” Looking at it critically well, my take on destiny has been, “It is our decisions now that will determine our destinies!” Why? Because God has given us the chance to choose (a matter of choice) between what is good from what is bad! Destiny (often linked to the doctrine of predestination) to me is under two types; Individual and Cosmic. Individual destiny is the action you embarked upon now in order to build a future or life you want to live according to your desire. Cosmic destiny is beyond us, like the month you were born, your country of birth, your parents and so on are beyond your power or will!

The misconception is always with the Individual destiny part where lot of meanings have been attached to it, for instance; some school of thoughts believe that, “God knows everything (this is true),” “even what is going to happen to each and every one of us in the future (this is true).” They went ahead that even the type of deaths that will happen to us all, where the death will take place, He is fully aware of that too, therefore no matter the decisions we may embark on now it is already in the plan of God for us (this is where I got confused totally), thereby showcasing His all-knowing attributes. That means the guy who is supposed to go to the University to study law but because of lack of funds; he ended up being a bus conductor (this is also God’s plan?) or the case of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit despite God’s express command that they should not eat thereby derailing the original plan of God for humanity (does that mean God knew they will disobey him, thereby still choose to put them there?). If this is correct, that means the belief that God foreknows all decisions would simply mean that he is responsible for all the happenings in the world including; wars, injustices, sufferings, excessive crimes, hatreds and all the negative happenings in the world, since all these are based on decisions I think this is where the misconceptions set in. To every DESTINY there is a CHOICE attached, it is what you do with your life as a matter of that choice that will bring that destiny you had longed for to reality (Deuteronomy 30: 19)!

According to the Biblical quotation above, God has given every one the choice of actions; this clearly negates the erroneous belief of the inevitable events that happen to us all. There is either a direct or indirect link to unforeseen occurrences in the life of an individual as a result of the consequences of other people’s decisions. For instance, a man sacked (whether it is justifiable or not) may likely find his livelihood difficult, and in the process his initial view on life and plans temporarily or permanently altered as a result of somebody’s (boss) decisions! The belief of ‘what will be, will be’ has nothing to do with God but your actions of today! This brings back the question in this equation on DESTINY, why is it so difficult to understand? Goodluck!