‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Writing to the Jews in exile, Jeremiah assured them that God was in control of the affairs of their lives and had a set time for their return to their fatherland. That was more clearly stated in Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” What is called thoughts in this place was given other descriptions in other translations. For example, New American Standard Bible calls it “plans”, while Modern King James Version calls it “purposes”. These three – thoughts, plans, purposes – are basically describing the same thing, and they are all pointers to the fact that God has a destiny for His people. What we need to probe is this: what triggers destiny? The answer may be varied, but one thing is certain: when people rise up to responsibility, they may find themselves in the course of destiny. David’s experience proved this to be true.

Our destiny may come dressed in responsibility. Those who duck responsibility are dissociating themselves from a great future.

His father had charged him to take some provisions to his brothers and their captain in the battlefront. He readily agreed to take that responsibility. When he got there, he heard the intimidating noise of Goliath who had tormented the army of Saul for 40 days and nights. He volunteered to go and fight the giant. His elder brother challenged him, seeing him nothing more than an ambitious young lad who could not tell his right from his left. David’s response was captured in our text. He saw a cause worth risking everything for. His acceptance of that responsibility brought him to national limelight and ushered him into destiny. Our destiny may come dressed in responsibility. Those who duck responsibility are dissociating themselves from a great future.