He may not have realized it, but he was echoing the heartbeat of Scripture.
In just seven words, he uncovered a truth God had already embedded into every person’s soul: You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Embracing that purpose isn’t optional—it’s a sacred duty.
Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
That phrase stops me every time: “…the days that were formed for me…”
Before I took my first breath, God already saw every step I’d take. So why, if God knows the plan, is it so hard to live it? Why do we wrestle to find our potential, stumble into calling, and question if we’re on the right path?
Because there’s a tension here—a paradox, which theologians refer to as antinomy: two truths that appear to contradict but are both real. God has a sovereign plan, yet we still have to choose it.
Boethius, writing 1,500 years ago, described a picture: God exists outside of time. He perceives the beginning and the end at the same time. He doesn’t guess what we’ll do—He knows. But His knowing doesn’t override our ability to choose. We are not robots; we are image-bearers with responsibility.
I can’t fully explain how it works, but I’ve seen evidence that it does. Scripture confirms it. Experience affirms it. I’ve seen purpose, and I’ve seen rebellion. I’ve watched lives redeemed and others wasted. Evil exists, but not because God planned it—because people chose it.
Evil vs. Doing Nothing
As I understand it, evil is not always active wickedness. Sometimes, it’s simply the absence of doing good. Choosing not to decide is still a choice—and often, it’s the wrong one.
Isaiah 45:7, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”
Older translations say “create evil,” but that Hebrew word—rah—refers to calamity, not moral evil. It points to disruption and hardship, not depravity. Let’s not confuse natural consequences with moral corruption. God may bring judgment or allow trouble, but He never authorizes sin.
That’s a different discussion. This one is about your potential. So no, we don’t get to sit back and let life “work out.” God’s plan for you is real, but it requires participation.
“Behind every avalanche is a snowflake, behind every rockslide is a pebble.” – Max Lucado
God’s will is like an avalanche. Your decisions are the snowflakes, and obedience is the pebble.
You matter. Your choices matter—your calling matters.
Discovering and living out your God-given purpose isn’t just a noble idea; it’s the reason you’re still alive. It’s what makes you complete, not only in who you are but also in your relationship with the One who created you.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
You’re called. The plan is real. But you still have to step into it.
What can you be… You must be.
So, what’s stopping you?
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