While planning to leave Lagos for Akure that year, I got talking with an older minister who was dear to us. I could feel the “love” in his voice: “Demola, you don’t have to go to Akure; Lagos is where your kind of ministry is needed.” But we both realised it was not God’s will for me.
Friend, when it comes to matters of destiny, you must learn to decipher true love as opposed to emotions (Philippians 1:9-12). Those who love you the most may be your greatest enemies in the journey of destiny if they are ruled by emotions instead of divine revelation (Matthew 16:21-23).
Peter once rebuked Jesus for choosing to die for humanity (Matthew 16:22). He was talking out of his love for Jesus, but it was not God’s will (Matthew 16:23). Whoever comes in the way of your obedience to God and progress in destiny is actually your enemy, even if you or they don’t know it.
Jonathan missed his destiny of greatness with David due to his emotional attachment to his father (2 Samuel 1:23). Saul wanted him to succeed him. But this was not God’s choice (1 Samuel 20:31). Jonathan allowed the emotions of his father to truncate his divine destiny (1 Samuel 23:17).
You cannot afford to let people who do not know your destiny whip up emotions that would truncate it. Those closest to you and who love you genuinely can stop you from pressing into your destiny. What would have happened if Mary had stopped Jesus from dying on the cross (Luke 23:27-28)?
God loves you enough to let you fulfil your destiny, not waste away in it (Romans 8:32). You need relationships that stretch you, not spare you. Tell your pastor not to spare you (2 Timothy 2:3). Let your spouse not spare you. Let them allow you to go through the training and demands that would produce your destiny.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria