How To Stumble Into Your Destiny

Do you know the difference between passion and destiny? 

There are many believers that have a fragmented focus. Most of us have struggled to say, “This is what I am all about!” It is beneficial to have that clarity, but it can lead to a particular type of narcissism combined with Christian dialogue. 

I have always had a passion to teach, to study, and to read. The Lord kept me from pursuing my passions for a long time. When I say the Lord, I mean that. For many years, I pastored a church. It was a job I did not want to do.

The prophetic word that I was responding to said, “This is your house, this is your people.” I received that word in a church in Rhode Island. I lived in Philadelphia at the time. I felt that the Lord was calling me to go to Rhode Island. It took me a little while to get there, but I went. I thought that it would be for just a little while. But the Lord would not let me out of that assignment. I had no confirmation of leaving and pastored that church for longer than expected.

Even then, I was not in my passion but I was doing what I was called to do. Eventually, I ended up doing what I love to do. 

This is important: Knowing your passion helps you to know what drives you and how to say yes or no to what is before you. Your destiny is bigger than your passion. Your passion tells you what you want to do. But the thing about following Jesus is, you don’t always do what you want to do; you do what you’re called to do. Look at John 12:24-26. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Sometimes, God directs you into your calling by having you go in a direction that’s not where you want to go. That’s why Jesus says, “He who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” This doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. It means that you don’t cling to the idea of fulfilling your own life—you go where Jesus is sending you.

Over the last few years, I have personally begun to see my passion combine with my calling in a new way. I have seen favor in the media realm and an incredible reformation breaking forth. It has become evident that the harvest of nations is in reformation, a move of God that goes beyond revival and soul winning. I am humbled when I think about your support and encouragement over the years, as you have been an integral part of this ministry and vision. Thank you for recognizing what God is doing and faithfully interceding on our behalf! We still have so much to do to reach the nation and world with this message of destiny and hope. Without you, none of this massive vision is possible. 

This community has been a tremendous support as we have sought to partner with the Lord and be obedient to His calling. Would you consider partnering with us as we spread the seven mountain message around the world? If you are led to partner with us, you can do so online by visiting lancewallnau.com/calling or by mailing a donation to Lance Wallnau Ministries, PO Box 2688, Keller, TX 76244. 

Joseph fulfilled his destiny by being obedient—he had no passion or desire to be in Egypt. He fulfilled his destiny by staying pure in a place he didn’t want to be. To the degree that you make pleasing the Father and saying yes to Jesus your priority, to that degree you stumble into your destiny. Start to look for the breadcrumbs of where you said yes to God in the past, where you built altars, where you’ve done what you didn’t want to do, where you gave the offering that cost you something. Surely, there have been many times in our history with the Lord where our will was crossed with the will of God, but we were obedient and took up our cross. In that place, see how God showed up. Prioritize where Jesus is and join Him. Supernatural favor is found here.

My prayer is for you (and for me) to have the objectivity to discern what the Father is calling us into. May we not consult our fears or our conveniences, our wants or our desires, but to consult what pleases Him, and then have the courage to go there. 

Here is the key: make pleasing the Father your goal. There will be plenty of times when the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts. The promotions that happen in the Spirit, happen when we go where Jesus goes.