Choose Life: Readings For Radical DisciplesSample

Destiny or Despair?

God plucked Esther from obscurity and placed her in a unique position, as queen in a foreign land, to save her people from annihilation. That was her destiny and calling, which she stepped into and lived out for his glory and the liberation of the Jews. The prospective outcome didn’t look promising, but the Sovereign Lord orchestrated events to accomplish his purposes in his time. 

Without a belief that God has plans for us – a destiny (which he does, see Jeremiah 29:11)- we can easily give way to despair. The circumstances we face can either help or hinder us depending on how we respond to them. But, as the saying goes, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Despair stems from a lack of hope and expectation of breakthrough. What is it that keeps us trudging through the mud of despair and how can we make sure we don’t get sucked down into it? Hope is the answer. Napoleon said that “a leader is a dealer in hope.” He understood the need for a team to be encouraged and uplifted with the antidote to despair. 

In Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, a small hobbit called Frodo Baggins becomes an unlikely hero in a tale of destiny, adventure, and good versus evil. He has many dark days in his quest to destroy the evil ring but is supported and encouraged throughout by his companions. As “the darkest hour is before dawn”, Legolas the elf at one stage says as much: “Oft hope is born when all is forlorn”.

Do you feel hopeless or hopeful about your destiny, about your longings, aspirations, and dreams? Don’t despair! Ask the Lord for someone to come alongside you on your journey, to bring hope and encouragement when you need it. He hears your prayers, reads your thoughts, knows your needs, and answers in his time and in his wisdom. Trust him!

Lord, I choose to maintain my trust in you today. Amen!