SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

Have You Won the Faith Versus Fate Battle

Faith Versus FateAs Christians, we are raised in the Church to believe in Faith Versus Fate. This belief in a Higher power can sometimes be a battle.

Many of us go through life believing in coincidences and destiny. They call their life plan, their spouse,  even their dream job..FATE. This creates a constant internal battle of faith versus fate.

FATE defined as “the development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.”

Hmm that really sounds familiar to what we Christians believe…

FAITH “makes us certain of realities we do not see” ~ Heb 11:1

Seems to me very similar in definition. And yet we are quick to declare something was of fate rather than giving God the glory in our faith.

I spent many years blindly going through life thinking “everything happens for a reason.” I would be so focused on my own fated plan that I ignored His plan. Allowing others’ opinions of me interfere with my own believing. Fate beat out faith every time in my reasoning for quite some time.

“There is an appointed time for everything,
    and a time for every affair under the heavens.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Raised in the shadows of an older brother. It was common to be compared to him (not the best example). I grew up believing that it was my fate or destiny to fail. Hearing words of discouragement and comparison spoken into you at a young age can change the way you see yourself. This self-doubt caused me to depend on fate versus faith. The only thing I really believed was that I would not amount to much and that was my destiny.

With the fated stigma of not amounting to much, I accepted that plan for my life. It was not until many years later that I discovered the power of Faith Versus Fate.

After living many years in fate blinded fear my eyes are open. Returning to my faith after being away and astray for many years. I began to see the value that I had and only if I could take a leap of faith versus fate could alter the so-called ‘destiny’.

Spending time alone in conversation with my father, my Heavenly Adoptive Father that is. He has shown that my fateful present and future were not His plan. I had spent so many years self-loathing that rediscovering faith was a challenge.

Since then my world has been turned on its head. Everything I thought was true was a lie. I climbed out of my cocoon of insecurity and grew wings. Giving into a Holy Spirit led faith driven life wrecked my world. I will thankfully never be the same.

In turning my life over to faith versus fate my art has changed. God has placed people in my path that have altered my future. I live each day with goals and dreams rather than dread. I wake up each day with the faith in believing that “this is the day my Lord has made”.

No longer do I live for myself in the shadows of lies and deceit. When I decided to change to living by Faith Versus Fate and living a life of spirit filled service. I continue to be blessed in ways I cannot explain. By giving God the glory and living by faith not fate my life has been changed forever…

How about you, do you have the same struggles in declaring faith over fate in your life? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.

About Charles Johnston

Charles is a Christian, husband and father of fur-kids who shares his walk with others in hopes to help other's along the way.

16 Replies

  1. I constantly have a battle between my faith and my fate. It’s just important to me to try to see them as separate entities.

    1. How do you separate the two and make that determination Cat?

  2. It can be hard to let Faith take a leading role in life, but ultimately it is the only thing that matters!

    1. Involves a great deal of trust in the unknown or at least unseen. Thanks for your comments Rachel.

  3. I’m not a big believer in fate but I’m a huge believer in faith. Love your article and it’s food for thought.

    1. Thank you Joie, being a believer in faith definitely can make all the difference.

      1. Patrice

        The WORD is the final say…
        Without faith it’s impossible to please GOD…
        F ollowing
        A ll
        I nstruction
        T hough the
        H oly Ghost

  4. With fate there is no choice, and also no reason to continue. With faith there is hope!

    1. Hope is what we can rely on, having faith in Him does not necessarily remove doubt but it makes the journey worthwhile. Thanks David for joining the conversation.

  5. Ah! Faith! The foundation of my life. Without Faith in Him, our God, there is not much of anything at all.

  6. That’s an interesting perspective on faith and fate. I really think that the two are intertwined.

  7. Great article! I agree with Dilemma Mike. Faith gives us hope!

  8. Braidyn Morin

    Thank you for making this post. I have just discovered the difference and how freeing my life can be when I make the distinction between the two and choose Faith instead of fate.
    I have just finished a healing ministry and this was something that I discovered within the 4 weeks of discovery. I feel like have given myself the permission to live in the freedom of Faith and praising God rather than myself. I like how you compare the two and knowing the difference really allows me to confront the fact that I must be aware of the two separately. Again, this allows me to give God the glory, rather than myself.

    1. Sounds like you have been on a beautiful journey. Finding the difference and the freedom to give God the glory is a humbling moment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to read and comment. Blessings.

  9. Elaine Epps

    I think about the leap of the faith of Jocabed. She could not know where her son would end up, she only knew that she was placing him in GOD’s hands. Ending up in Pharoah’s house was not faith. It was careful planning on GOD’s part. My faith is part of the plan. thank you for this post.