By Rev, Dawn Gikandi

Purpose-Driven Growth: Becoming Who You Were Created to Be in Every Sphere

“You are the created—not the Creator.”

What does it truly mean to live a life shaped by divine intention? In this session, Rev. Dawn Gikandi didn’t offer shallow encouragements or trendy slogans—she took us back to the fundamentals of our identity, dependence, and calling in God. This was a holy recalibration for anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or uncertain in their journey.

Key Insights & Reflections

1. Created for a Purpose

To be created is to belong to a Creator. This single truth destroys the illusion of self-sufficiency. We are not random, self-authored beings. We were formed, fashioned, and positioned by God for divine purposes.

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” – Ephesians 2:10

Using the metaphors of gloves and puzzles, Rev. Dawn taught that our design is intentional and our fit is specific. Like gloves are made to fit the hand, and puzzle pieces have their assigned space, so too are we crafted to function in alignment with our Creator’s intent—not outside of it.

2. Growing Doesn’t Mean Graduating from God

Just as a baby elephant, despite growing massive in size, still remains under the care and guidance of its parent, so must we recognize that our spiritual maturity never makes us independent of God. We are always the created. He is always the Creator.

“Can the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’” – Isaiah 45:9

3. Trusting God’s Timing and Wisdom

One of the deepest calls of the session was the invitation to trust—even in God’s silence. Rev. Dawn walked us through profound passages reminding us that God owes us no explanation. He acts out of wisdom, not our consent.

Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the Lord.”

Isaiah 60:22 – “At the right time, I the Lord will make it happen.”

Sometimes we’re trying to “arm wrestle” with God, attempting to take control. But like her childhood story illustrated—God lets us “win” sometimes, not because we’re stronger, but because He’s training us to trust.

4. Surrender as a Pathway to Grace

Rev. Dawn boldly reminded us: God causes both joy and pain. (Job 2:10, Deut 32:39) Yet, our response isn’t to resist but to surrender—to look beyond outcomes and into God’s grace in every season.

Pain doesn’t always mean punishment. Delays don’t always mean denial. The path of surrender says:

“Lord, I don’t understand, but I yield.”

5. Forgiveness: Your Prison Break

“Forgiveness is discovering you were in a prison… and realizing you already have the keys.”

Holding onto offense doesn’t just limit relationships—it binds destinies. Rev. Dawn explained that forgiveness is not for the offender, but for the freedom of the forgiver. It’s the divine act of trading bitterness for peace, and control for healing.

Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness… be put away from you… forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.”

6. Gratitude as Warfare

Even in suffering, thankfulness is a spiritual discipline and a weapon of peace.

Thanking God for the fleas (as Corrie Ten Boom did in a concentration camp).

Thanking Him for the rest of your teeth after a fall.

Thanking Him for a house that didn’t burn because it had no window.

These are not just anecdotes—they are kingdom mindsets.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

John 14:27 – “My peace I give you… not as the world gives…”

Final Charge: Live According to His Purpose

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

This session closed with a holy reminder: You are not an accident. Your pain is not wasted. Your process is not pointless. You are called, shaped, and being grown—on purpose, for His glory.

Let your heart be reminded: You are the creation. God is the Creator. And His plan for you is not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)