Wouldn’t we all like to know the exact specifics of God’s plans and purposes for our lives? I for one certainly would! However, scripture tells us that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings is to investigate them (Proverbs 25:2).

We may not have the exact specifics of our final destination but we all have gifts and determining what those gifts are will be key to providing an insight into the direction and purpose of our lives. One biblical example is Joseph. He had a gift of interpreting dreams and that provided him with direction throughout his trials. Whilst at Potiphar’s house and eventually, prison, a gift of administration also manifested in his life, providing further insight to the direction of his destiny. The truth is that if he had allowed bitterness and frustration overcome him, he would have been too self-absorbed to see the needs of the people he served with his gifts and may have eventually missed out on the glorious future that God had mapped out for him. We must learn not to despise our humble beginnings because God uses it to prepare us for our future as we quietly meet the needs of others with our gifts.

Our job is not to get bogged down with the specifics. Whilst serving as a ‘house boy’ to Potiphar and organising things in jail, Joseph had no idea where he would end up. All he had was faith in God and a God-given vision. Joseph was faithful to use his gifts wherever he went, trusting that God was taking him somewhere for His glory.

There was a man who had already failed in business twice by his twenties. In his thirties, he was defeated for Congress. In his forties, he was defeated for the Senate and later for the office of Vice President. However, at 51, he was elected President of the United States. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln clearly faced many obstacles on the path to his God-given destiny. He had no idea where he would eventually end up but he was faithful to allow his gifts provide direction and purpose to his life. By taking steps of faith and being at the right place at the right time, his gift of leadership was used mightily by God to lead the US through a civil war and abolish slavery. Let us determine what our gifts are and allow them to give us direction. Once we set our course, let’s ask God for the grace to be faithful in walking with Him one step at a time as He unfolds His plans and purposes for our lives.