As human beings, we have always tried to understand the forces that shape our lives. You will see some people talk about faith while some speak about fate, and others mention destiny as if there is corelation or link amongst them. In my mother tongue which is Yoruba language, we often hear words like ayémo and kàdàrá. Though these words come from different traditions, they all try to answer one simple question: Who controls the direction of our live? Is there any difference between the two or any similarities? Fate and destiny. Some people reacon that what happens to us is already predestining and is bound to happen anyway as we have little or no control over it. Is that really true?
So it is same to say that Faith is about our belief. It is more of the spiritual than the physical. Faith is what difference between the believers and someone who doesn't. A person with faith believes that life is not just happening randomly. Religion often strengthens this belief. In Christianity, people believe that God has a plan for every individual. In Islam, it is believed that nothing happens without the will of Allah. Faith gives people the strength to continue even when life becomes difficult. It helps someone believe that today's struggle may lead to tomorrow’s breakthrough. So faith is more of individuals conviction about life and supreme beings.
On the contrary, Fate is often seen as the things that happen to us beyond our control. Many people believe that some events in life are already fixed. For instance, the family we are born into, the time we come into this world, or certain unexpected events we experience. In many cultures, fate is seen as something written already. It is the part of life that human effort may not easily change. It is even common in the society i grew up from as people focus more on religious. They often attributed almost everything to fate.
What can we say about destiny? Destiny is often seen as the purpose or direction of a person’s life. It is what someone is meant to become or accomplish. In Yoruba thought, ayémo is closely related to destiny. It is believed that before coming into the world, a person chooses a destiny. However, living that destiny in the world depends on the choices the person makes. That is why elders sometimes in my locality say that someone has spoiled his destiny when he makes bad decisions that may jeopardise his future.
The word kàdàrá is also used to describe fate or destiny. When something unexpected happens, people may say “ó jẹ́ kàdàrá” "meaning it is destiny. This reflects the belief that some things in life happen according to a design that human beings can not fully understand. This is what people often called the hand of God.
What all these ideas tell us about human beings is that we are always searching for meaning. Life is full of uncertainty. Sometimes we work very hard yet the result does not come immediately. At other times, someone may succeed without much effort. Because of this mystery, humans try to explain life through faith, fate, and destiny. It has become difficult to understand and grasp the full picture of it. Should we say that is what make God supreme over us yet some people don't believe in God.
But there is also the question: What can be changed and what can not be?
Some things can not be changed. We can not change our past. We can not choose the family we were born into. We can not control every event that happens around us. Natural occurrences, accidents, and certain life circumstances are beyond human control.
However, many things can still be changed. Our attitude, our decisions, and our actions can influence the direction of our lives. A person may be born into poverty, but through education, discipline, and persistence, that person may change his condition. In this sense, destiny is not always a fixed road; it can also be a path we shape with our choices.
Religion plays an important role in how people understand these ideas. Religion teaches people to have faith when life becomes difficult. It reminds people that there is a higher power who sees beyond human understanding. At the same time, many religions encourage hard work, patience, and good character. They do not simply teach people to sit down and blame fate.
It is true that we may not be able to control everything, but we are not completely powerless either. Between what heaven decides and what we choose lies the story of every human life.
