The tightrope walker was poised, rhythmic and quick. My family sat dazzled as we watched his act a few months ago.  His balance was impressive and his footwork glued our eyes to his every move. He made the tightrope look like a dance floor.

Even as members of his family swung from the high bars around him, the acrobat remained focused on getting to the other side. I imagine the group rehearses relentlessly to maintain their precision. However, if they encounter a problem — an unexpected knot in the tightrope or a slippery bar — the well-coordinated effort could result in a disastrous fall.

I hope that never happens. From their physicality to their showmanship, it looked like this family was born to be acrobats. I didn’t have the opportunity to ask if flipping with flexibility was their true passion; but I’d be surprised if they named another pursuit.

Purpose is what God designed us to do. Passion is what we are driven to do. But problems challenge our ability to do.  As a result, walking the tightrope of destiny is an impossible balancing act unless we’re held by the God who holds both ends.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

What do we do if we encounter what feels unfair or our faith loses traction?  Not knowing “the whole scope of God’s work,” a desperate soul can search for many options.

We can exchange the truth for a lie.

Ditch freedom and excellence for a fortress of mediocrity.

Shun a rewarding relationship for an inadequate interaction or…

We can cling to the promises of God.

How would you describe your moves? Are you gliding in step with God’s purpose, struggling to hear His rhythm, or are you far from the dance floor of the Divine?

The destiny shuffle is a delicate maneuver. Sometimes I get off beat; particularly, if I choose to listen to what causes anxiety or to what promises selfish delight.

Yet, prayer is my posture when I heed the Spirit’s call. Time spent in God’s presence allows me to hear a holy cadence.

He holds me with the truth of His word.

It creates a passion to know Him more and love others better.

It brings my problems into proper Light.

However, unlike the acrobats’ performance, life is not an act; it’s a gift.

From changing diapers to changing jobs, we’re bombarded with opportunities to change our perspective or change the world.  Everyone does the destiny shuffle. We move in rhythm with God’s will or further away from His plan.

There are many competing cadences. The world calls us to abandon God’s design for a trendy lifestyle. Our flesh calls us to become driven by whatever makes us feel better or look good. The enemy of our soul calls us to view life consumed by our circumstances.

But our purpose, passion, and problems were never meant to make us shallow, shameful and defeated. Through faith in Christ, we can know the God who gives us significance, freedom and victory.

While many factors seek to choreograph our dance towards destiny, here’s some good news: Only God can guide us according to the place, pace and the people He wants to impact with our lives. It’s quite a sight as He enables us to walk upon our high places. And it becomes a constant source of hope for the heart and joy to the soul.

“The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility].” – Habakkuk 3:19 AMP