There are systems in this world that were ignorantly designed—or carelessly maintained—to slowly destroy human lives and destinies. Many people never notice it because they were born inside these systems. When something surrounds you from childhood, you begin to assume it must be normal. But when you pause to examine life psychologically, spiritually, and philosophically, you begin to see that some systems were never truly designed to help human beings discover themselves. Instead, they shape people into conformity.
Four of the most powerful systems that influence human destiny are religion, culture, traditions, and schooling.
These systems are not inherently evil. In fact, each of them originally had noble intentions. Religion was meant to connect humanity with God. Culture was meant to preserve identity. Traditions were meant to transmit wisdom from one generation to another. Schooling was meant to train the mind.
But over time, many of these systems have drifted from their original purpose.
Instead of helping people discover their God-given calling, they often push people into roles that satisfy the system rather than the purpose of God.
Let us begin with the first system: religion.
Religion, at its core, should guide people toward God and help them understand His will for their lives. Yet in many places, religion has slowly turned into something else—an institutional structure that often prioritizes control over discovery.
Instead of helping people discover their unique calling, religious systems sometimes pressure everyone into the same spiritual expression.
But the Bible reveals something very different about God.
God is not a manufacturer producing identical products. God is a creator who delights in diversity.
The scripture says in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”
That verse reveals something powerful: God knew you before systems met you.
Before a church labeled you.
Before culture defined you.
Before school trained you.
Before traditions shaped you.
God had already designed you.
Yet many people grow up in environments where their natural gifts are quietly suppressed in the name of spirituality. A young person who carries artistic ability may be told their creativity is “worldly.” Someone with entrepreneurial instincts may be discouraged because business is not seen as spiritual enough.
Over time, people begin to experience internal conflict.
Psychologically, it feels like living with two identities. There is the person you feel you are meant to become, and there is the person the system expects you to be.
Many believers spend years trying to silence the very gifts God planted inside them.
But the Bible says in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
God does not give gifts casually. He does not plant abilities randomly. Every gift is a seed of purpose.
Your gift is not decoration.
Your gift is direction.
Unfortunately, religion is not the only system that shapes people this way.
Culture also plays a powerful role.
Many cultures define success in very narrow ways. In some societies, success is limited to a few professions—doctor, lawyer, engineer, or pastor. Anything outside those options is treated as failure.
But human potential cannot be reduced to four career paths.
The world is shaped not only by professionals but also by artists, storytellers, inventors, musicians, philosophers, and builders.
History shows that some of the most influential individuals refused to abandon their gifts just to satisfy cultural expectations.
Imagine what life would look like if artists like Fela Kuti had suppressed his musical voice. His sound challenged power, awakened consciousness, and shaped African music globally.
Imagine if Michael Jackson had been told to remain only within the boundaries of religious music. The world would have lost one of the most influential performers in modern history.
Think about Nigeria’s own legends and modern stars like Ebenezer Obey, Wizkid, Simi, Tiwa Savage, and Rema.
Many of these artists started in church choirs.
Ironically, years ago, some religious voices condemned them for moving beyond the church walls. Today, some of the same institutions proudly celebrate their success or associate with their influence.
That contradiction reveals something profound.
Often, systems reject gifts until those gifts become successful enough to bring recognition or publicity.
But the struggle artists face is not unique to music.
It happens in many fields.
Another system that strongly influences destiny is tradition.
Traditions can preserve wisdom, but they can also preserve limitations. When traditions are followed without reflection, they can quietly imprison generations.
Sometimes traditions dictate who you should marry, what career you should pursue, where you should live, and how you should think.
Yet destiny rarely grows well inside rigid expectations.
The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said, “The most common form of despair is not being who you are.”
Many people are not failing in life because they lack talent. They are failing because they are living someone else’s script.
This brings us to another system that deeply shapes human destiny: schooling.
It is important to understand something many people overlook:
Schooling is not the same as education.
Schooling is a structured system designed to deliver standardized knowledge. Education, however, is the lifelong process of learning, thinking, questioning, and discovering truth.
A system often trains people to pass examinations and follow instructions. Education trains people to think independently and solve problems creatively.
The tragedy is that many people mistake academic certification for true education.
Some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential individuals illustrate this difference clearly.
Consider people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Bloomberg.
Many of them attended universities and studied fields like computer science, economics, engineering, and business. Yet their real breakthroughs did not come from obeying the limits of the system. Their success came from applying knowledge creatively beyond the classroom.
Education gave them tools.
But vision gave them direction.
Schooling often produces employees.
Vision produces creators.
This does not mean schooling is useless. It simply means schooling must not become a prison for human potential.
The deeper truth many people overlook is this:
You were born with the gifts that will sustain you.
Long before you ever entered a classroom or a church building, God had already placed abilities inside you.
Some people are naturally gifted in communication.
Some are gifted in creativity.
Some are gifted in leadership.
Some are gifted in organization.
Some are gifted in storytelling.
Some are gifted in innovation.
These gifts are not accidents.
They are divine deposits.
In the Bible, Jesus told a story that reveals how God views human gifts. In Matthew 25:14–30, the Parable of the Talents, a master gave his servants different talents and expected them to multiply them.
The servant who buried his talent was not praised for playing it safe.
He was rebuked.
Why?
Because gifts are meant to be used, developed, and multiplied.
Your gift is not merely something you enjoy. In many cases, it is the very instrument God intends to use to sustain your life.
Your gift can become your livelihood.
Your gift can become your influence.
Your gift can become your contribution to the world.
Frederick Buechner once wrote a powerful line:
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
That intersection is where destiny lives.
Unfortunately, many people never reach that intersection because systems taught them to suppress the very thing that made them unique.
They hide their creativity.
They silence their curiosity.
They bury their voice.
Yet the deeper tragedy is not that systems exist. The real tragedy is when individuals surrender their discernment to those systems.
The Apostle Paul warned believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
That instruction means something important: not everything presented as truth should be accepted blindly.
Systems must be examined.
Ideas must be tested.
Traditions must be evaluated.
Even religious teachings must be measured against the character and purpose of God.
God is not threatened by human potential. In fact, He designed it.
When a person finally discovers their gift and begins to develop it, something powerful happens inside them. They come alive. Work becomes meaningful. Contribution becomes natural.
The world does not benefit from people who suppress their gifts. The world benefits from people who discover them.
So the real question is not whether you have a gift.
The real question is whether the systems around you have convinced you to bury it.
If you truly want to live the life God designed for you, you must have the courage to examine the systems that shaped you.
Keep what is good.
Discard what destroys purpose.
Discover your gift.
Develop it.
Trade with it.
Because very often, the thing you were taught to suppress is the very thing God designed to feed you, sustain you, and bless the world through you.
Sam Adeoye
Coach, Counselor, Pastor, Therapist, Writer
