When Destiny Oribhabor left for the University of Houston at the age of 18 she had every intention of becoming a doctor. God, however, had other plans.

While in college, Destiny and a group of her friends started an organization called Women of the Word and it showed her heart for women. Destiny began using her story of dealing with pain, low self-esteem and a sense of unworthiness to connect with other ladies who had similar experiences.

After her time at the University of Houston, Destiny went to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth to receive her Master’s Degree in Public Health. It was then that God revealed to her the start of what is now the nonprofit organization she founded – Destiny Unveiled. Destiny Unveiled’s mission is to help women identify misconceptions and veils that have hindered them from walking in freedom, purpose and destiny.

How have you seen God work through Destiny Unveiled?

First and foremost, it has affected me. God has really stretched me in the area of vulnerability. I’m more dependent on my friendships and share when I’m struggling in a particular area instead of putting on this facade of perfection.

What made you decide to get your organization set up as a nonprofit instead of keeping it solely as an online movement?

I’ve had a lot of blogs, I’ve always loved writing – I started a blog back in 2004 and another one in 2007 so I knew it would make sense for me to have something online. But I’ve also always loved service and working in the community. Even before Destiny Unveiled, I was serving at the Dallas Women’s Shelter and I realized freedom is for all women, not just for millennials online.

As I’ve been growing I’ve learned there is so much work we can do [as an organization] and there’s so much impact we can have in the community by going beyond social media and getting funds and donations.

Has the initial vision of Destiny Unveiled changed at all since it started?

It’s been evolving. The mission is to help women identify misconceptions and veils that have hindered them from walking in freedom, purpose and destiny but God is showing me this can happen in different ways. I’ve seen God move the needle a little bit where we’re having interaction with men’s ministries and it’s allowed us to talk through some things. When I think about freedom for a woman, sometimes a man is a part of the pain. So, I wholeheartedly believe in unity between men and women walking together, side by side. Healing comes when we stand united with our brothers. We need each other.

On the Destiny Unveiled website you share how out of our deepest pain comes purpose. How has God brought about purpose through your pain?

I grew up in a Nigerian household and I didn’t cry a lot growing up. Everything was kept in. Then when I got into college I was always bursting [with tears].  University of Houston was a different world and I became a chameleon – I wanted to be what everyone wanted me to be.

I walked into college feeling like I knew who I was and left feeling extremely broken. I did what everyone else liked but didn’t know what I liked. When I moved back to Dallas I felt like God really began a work in my heart. A friend that I met there in Dallas asked, “Who are you?” and it challenged me to ask God who I am.

One Saturday morning, I was sitting on my laptop and this word uncovered came to my heart. I defined it and the synonymous term was unveiled. I knew in that moment God said, “I brought you to Dallas to unveil you.” He said, “Know me and then you’ll know you.” He began to show me who He is which led to Him showing me who I am. I saw that I like to write, I like to read. I had a heart for women. God also showed me [Destiny Unveiled] wasn’t just for me, it was for my sisters around me and behind me.

 

In the Destiny Unveiled launch video you talk about how vision doesn’t always come in the timing we expect, what advice do you have for those who are fighting to be patient to receive what God has promised?

You don’t know the things that are attached to moving in God’s time. Be faithful. Be transparent and know that God knows better than we do.

He gave me inclinations of [Destiny Unveiled] back in 2010 but He didn’t allow anything to happen with it until 2016. Something I had to reconcile in my heart was that I was still going to be faithful. I would see things online that looked similar to what I wanted to do and I would get so sad. Something Christine Caine said really helped me. She gave the illustration of a dark room and said when pictures are exposed to light too early you don’t get the full photo. This encouraged me to not move before His time.

For the month of February, the Black Girls with Purpose community is focusing on loving ourselves better. How do you define self-love?  

I wholeheartedly believe that “self-love” and how we love ourselves first comes from the Father. We love because He FIRST loved us (1 John 4:19). In this current place I had no clue that I was trying to love myself apart from Him. Knowing His love has taught me the beauty of who I am in my flaws and all. It has taught me to value who He created Destiny to be. His love is teaching me how to truly love myself. How do I apply this daily? Getting into the Word DAILY.  Also, taking care of me through working out, journaling, going on movie-dates solo and being okay with resting. I believe that when I love myself well and take much needed time for me, I can then love others well. In summary, learning how to love me first comes from embracing how I am FIRST loved by Him.

Being a black girl with purpose.   

 

What does it mean to you to be a black girl with purpose?

I’m Nigerian and sometimes it’s easy to forget that what I’m doing is also for my culture. I’m opening up another door for people in my culture that they might not have seen before. I love reminding people that our purpose begins and ends with God. [When I walk in purpose I answer] the call God has already given. With that comes the confidence and peace that says God has told me to do this. 

What is the hardest part about walking in your purpose?

Comparison. I attend a church in Dallas called Shoreline City and our pastor once said stop basing your capacity on what other people are doing. We have to understand if “this” is what [God] asked me to do in this season, this is what I can handle.

What would you say to someone who doesn’t know where to start to find their purpose?

Joanna Gaines said something like “try different things, you never know what that thing could lead you to.”

Volunteer. If you like photography, get a camera. I never thought about photography but we needed photos for a series we did and I didn’t have the means to hire a photographer. One day, I asked my friend if she thought I could do it – I did and now it’s opened up this door to explore photography and I am really enjoying it!

What’s your go to scriptures when you find yourself needing encouragement?

Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding” because I tend to get in my head a lot and I’m super emotional and ten to lean on my own understanding. I know now that what I trust or feel doesn’t always equate to what God is saying.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Dream big. Know that [your purpose] is bigger than [you] and God can blow your mind. [Purpose] requires you to trust in Him and not what you could do on your own. Let Him be the driver of your dream.

You can support the Destiny Unveiled movement by sharing your Unveiled story at http://destinyunveiled.org/contact/ or donating at http://destinyunveiled.org/donate/.

Stay connected with the Destiny Unveiled movement by liking them on Facebook and following them on Twitter @WhatisyourVeil and Instagram @Destinyunveiled. DU is looking to do more in-person meet ups in 2018 so stay tuned!

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