How to Incubate Destiny
We can easily confuse who we are becoming with who we are now. Doing so can abort our destiny—our harvest. God has provided checks and balances to properly incubate destiny and for our protection. These are cues designed to alert us. For example, when the stature we presume we have, is not evident to others, that is a check. It is a kind of divine alarm bell, triggered to tell us we might be crossing our timelines. Embracing these checks and balances is crucial for turning potential into reality.
The Cost of Presumption
Potential is a picture of our future reality. It speaks loudly about our ultimate destination. Sometimes it is so real we lose sight of the fact it isn’t in the present. Mistaking one for the other (present for future) can lead to serious problems, which is why Paul encouraged us to be clear-minded (Romans 12:3). He understood that potential, as good as it may be, is still an unrealized promise.
The issue with promise is that it is not a guarantee—it is a possibility; like qualifying for a race you still have to run. Qualification makes you eligible, but you still have to face the challenge of the race. Wisdom dictates we guard from getting ahead of ourselves; the proverbial ‘cart before the horse’ scenario. Sometimes we might need a little reminding.
Word to the Wise
It certainly was something a certain Syrian King had forgotten. Ben-Hadad lost sight of this key difference in the wake of his optimistic projections. As he boasted and presumed victory, he was suddenly reminded the battle had yet to be fought.
A friendly reminder came by the word of the King of Israel who said:
‘Let not the one who puts on his armour boast like the one who takes it off.’
This is counsel we ought to all heed.
Mistaking our potential for accomplishments can be costly, especially with something as risky as military combat. While for us the stakes might not be as high, the result of misreading our current season can still be dire. It might even lead us to destroy precious relationships. Particularly when we expect those close to us to interact with the future version of ourselves.
A Personal Testimony
I was personally fed a dose of reality shortly after becoming a Christian. It came in the form of family members I was quick to believe were dishonouring the new me. Fortunately, the whispers of truth tuned me in before I could do any lasting damage.
It came after one semester of Bible College as I returned home eager to show off my newfound principled self. After what seemed like endless transformative moments in a powerful Holy Ghost setting, I was sure my spiritual stature would be apparent to all. To my surprise, no one seemed all that impressed. Furthermore, my godless brothers were irritating me so badly, that the impulse to return to my violent ways pushed steadily toward the surface.
Perplexed and frustrated, I knew it must be them; my family that is. Somehow their expectations based on who I used to be were pulling on the old me. Sad to say, this was my initial musing as I sought for valid reasons to vindicate myself. But one can only lie so much without tipping over the edge. Before long I was willing to face the sober truth.
My repentance was as invisible as my delusions since I had the good sense to keep my thoughts to myself. That bit of wisdom was a face-saving grace and I did not embarrass myself by accusing others. Regardless, the process was painful but enlightening. Though I did not fully understand the dynamics, I concluded that I was glowing with promise. But a promise is a reality not yet manifest to anyone but ourselves. It does however provide energy for grasping potential.
Potential in Promise
The potential is written into the basic DNA of the promises burning in our hearts. We all have them; they are the vital seeds of the future ‘you’.
Yet, there is a significant distinction to be grasped since they are still seeds. Which means they may not be obvious to others, ‘being hidden underground and all’. As such, we should never compel others to serve our optimistic projections.
Though promise burns in our hearts, it is hidden from view. We feel it because it is inside of us. Others will not! So it makes sense to give others the freedom to respond to who we are now. Expecting them to do otherwise is not only unfair, it is unwise.
Fair Warning
Anything less will bring disappointment and is a sure recipe for disaster. The sapling is not yet the towering oak. Likewise, unrealized potential, as authentic as it might be is still a future reality. To think otherwise is to choose a deception. I cannot impress too much on how pivotal this is.
Far too many have faltered at this very point, and either aborted or seriously stalled their development. Please take the opposite track.
Rather than resent those who do not implicitly acknowledge your destination, thank them. Learning to appreciate sober truth is critical for the long haul in this journey toward your destiny.
While God might give someone a glimpse of who you’re going to be, that is the exception and not the rule. Most are appointed to serve as a mirror. Through them, we get to see how far we have come, without having to abandon our promise. They keep us from confusing who we are with who we are becoming. In this way, they act as a God-ordained barometer; a gauge so that we may be aware of an otherwise undetectable reality.
To Incubate Destiny is a Delicate Tension
Destinies are never guaranteed and are nurtured in a delicate tension. They require embracing the present us and the future us, both at the same time. By doing this we ensure the best environment possible for incubating seeds of promise. If we faithfully do this, the promise will in time produce a harvest. This is how we germinate and nurse destiny! This is how a seedling becomes a ‘tree planted by streams of water, bringing forth its fruit in its season’.