What a grace it is to know that we have been chosen by God! However, between your selection by God and your validation by Him, there is a process that requires your voluntary and personal commitment.

“With confidence, O God! Praise awaits you in Zion; to you, our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.“ — Psalm 65:2-5

Indeed, as highlighted in this passage, iniquities (generational sins such as alcoholism, anger, debauchery, etc.) and our own transgressions weigh us down. (I develop this subject in more detail in the next chapter).

These sins block us and trouble our thoughts, preventing us from hearing the voice of the Lord.

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.“ — Psalm 32:8

We have all been chosen, but we can be chosen without being validated.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.“ — Matthew 22:14

Being chosen by God makes you eligible for His promises; being validated gives you access to them.

Joseph was called by God, but in order to be validated and live out God’s promises, he had to endure all kinds of tribulations. Because he kept God’s vision in his heart—despite his youth and the rejection from his brothers—he ultimately succeeded.

Saul, on the other hand, chosen by men and appointed as king of Israel, was ultimately not validated by God due to his character flaws.

Two things matter in your life:

1. You are God’s choice, regardless of how your life began.
2. Between election and validation, there may be tribulations, but the end is better than the beginning.

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.“ — Hebrews 6:12b (Paraphrased Version)

You are chosen by God, but He is waiting for you somewhere so that you may be validated.

How Can You Be Validated?

You must not conform to worldly norms, that is, the thought patterns imposed by the world. You must decide to go against the grain of worldly thinking. This requires you to make sacrifices to align with God’s plan for your life and manifest your destiny.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and the violent take it by force.“ — Matthew 11:12

You will therefore need to take steps beyond the ordinary to access God’s promises for your life. The story of Joseph gives us some examples:

• Take seriously the messages received from God. God speaks in various ways.
  “For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.” — Job 33:14
• Remain faithful to God despite injustices.
  “When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, ‘This is how your slave treated me,’ he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.” — Genesis 39:19-20
• Stay loyal to God, meaning staying connected to His heart.
  “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” — Genesis 39:9
• Keep the faith and persevere.
  “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” — Hebrews 10:35-36
• Give thanks to God in all circumstances.
  “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Do not hold grudges or seek revenge.
  “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” — Genesis 45:5

This text is an excerpt from the book ““The Power of a Youth Chosen and Revealed by God” written by Pastor Ghislain BIABATANTOU.

We invite you to read the next article: “A YOUTH OPPRESSED BY INIQUITY”.