Jerem
iah 29:11“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
We have all heard the stories of men and women of God who rose from humble beginnings. And when I say humble, I do not mean only a simple lifestyle. I'm referring to difficult environments, broken homes, painful histories, and places society often overlooks or writes off. Time and again, Scripture and life itself remind us that a person’s birthplace, background, or hardships do not have the power to cancel God’s purpose.
History is filled with people whose beginnings bore no resemblance to their destinies. One such example is the renowned evangelist, Morris Cerullo. Known worldwide for his preaching, healing ministry, and leadership training, few would ever imagine the tragedy that marked his early years. Both of his parents died under devastating circumstances, and he was raised in multiple orphanages. Yet, through God's divine plan, He placed a nurse in one of those orphanages who introduced him to Christianity. By the age of sixteen, Morris Cerullo was already preaching the Gospel. What the enemy intended for destruction in his life, God redeemed for global impact. His life stands as a powerful testimony that unfortunate beginnings never limit God’s calling.
Scripture reflects this truth as well. Even Jesus Himself was judged by where He came from. When He was revealed, scoffers dismissed Him with the words, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”John 1:46. His hometown became a reason for doubt in the hearts of those who could not see beyond appearances.
In the same way, Peter and John were fishermen by trade, labeled as common and uneducated men. Yet Jesus chose, transformed, and entrusted them with the responsibility of building His Church. Their authority was not derived from status, education, or a prestigious background, but from the Lord Himself who called them.
I share this because this truth is deeply personal to me.
I grew up in one of the toughest and most notorious neighborhoods in Arima, a village known as the “Congo.” I lived there with my parents and my three older brothers for twenty-four years. The area had a reputation for drugs, obeah, and dangerous characters. However, by the grace of God, there were also many good people there; families and friends who would look out for one another, a community that coexisted in its own unique way. Still, the stigma was real.
There were times I was ashamed to let my school friends know where I lived. The neighborhood was known for shaping the lives of many young people negatively through crime, drugs, and teenage pregnancy. I quietly carried the belief that my future would somehow be limited because of my address.
Despite this, my parents were Christians who raised us in the ways of the Lord. Our home became a place of worship, where Bible studies and church services from the church I fellowshipped with were held right in our living space for members of the community. Seeds were being planted long before I understood their significance.
As a teenager, I carried a deep scar that I would never see success in my future. When I sat the Common Entrance Examination in 1995, I was assigned to a problematic and unpopular school I had never selected, and this was not due to my lack of academic ability, but mainly because of where I lived. That experience reinforced the lie that my environment would always outweigh my potential.
Yet even then, I refused to stop hoping, dreaming, or believing that God had more for me. I remained focused on my studies and pressed forward academically, determined to succeed, even when it meant repeating a module or two.
In 2008, after receiving the call of God on my life, something remarkable happened. My family and I decided to relocate to a different neighborhood in Arima. That move marked a turning point. It altered the trajectory of my life, shaping where I would go and who I would become.
Looking back, I now understand that my beginnings were not a limitation in my life but were a foundation for my future.
Those years in the “Congo” were filled with spiritual warfare, financial hardship, and painful loss. Few people knew when we struggled financially. My father was an entrepreneur who made and sold preserved fruits that were well known across the east-west corridor of Trinidad, so outwardly, it appeared we were doing well. But behind closed doors, we faced seasons of lack, uncertainty, and grief. The loss of my second brother, Curtis, at the age of thirty, followed by my father having to sell his business due to financial strain, marked deep, painful chapters in our family’s story.
During my early teenage years, although I grew up in a Christian home, I was not fully surrendered to the Lord. I wrestled with low self-esteem, sadness, and the feeling of being stuck. There were moments when I truly believed my family’s situation would never change and that no one was coming to help us, but God was working quietly, faithfully, and deliberately.
What I once saw as chaos was, in fact, preparation for the battles, heartbreak, trials, and chastening that were shaping me for the future God had already planned. Every hardship and setback my family and I faced was training and a refining fire.
That is why I say this with conviction: where you come from does not determine your calling. Your background does not define your future, but your foundation does.
God has a unique plan for every life, regardless of past or present circumstances. Our destiny is in no way tied to geography, family history, or public perception. It is anchored in faith, obedience, and trust in God’s will.
You may come from a place or family background where people look down on you, or you may still live in a neighborhood others have written off. Whether it is the hills of Laventille, the slums of Sealots, or a small village in Arima called the “Congo”, God is there with you. He has not abandoned you, and He never will.
God is able to redeem broken beginnings, painful histories, and difficult environments. He can fill what was marked by hardship with hope and purpose, if you trust Him. I do not regret where or how I grew up. It shaped me, strengthened me, and prepared me. I will never forget where I came from, but I choose to focus on where God is taking me. His plan has always been greater than my own, and the same is true for you.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You that You are the Author of our lives and the Redeemer of our stories. Thank You for reminding us that our beginnings do not deter You and that our past does not have the power to cancel Your purpose. You see every hidden struggle, every tear shed in secret, and every season of hardship that shaped us.
Lord, I lift every reader who feels limited by where they come from, misunderstood because of their background, or overlooked because of their circumstances. Break every lie that says they are disqualified, forgotten, or destined to fail in Jesus’ name. Replace it with Your truth that they are chosen, called, and deeply loved.
Heal the wounds of the past, redeem broken memories, and turn what was meant for harm into a testimony of Your grace. Give us the faith to trust You even when the path ahead is unclear, and the courage to obey You when You call us forward. Help us to build our lives on a firm foundation rooted in Your Word, Your presence, and Your promises.
Father, we surrender our future into Your hands. Lead us where You desire, shape us as You will, and use our lives for Your glory. May we never forget where we came from, but always keep our eyes fixed on where You are taking us.
We declare that our destiny is secure in You, and that Your plan for our lives is greater than anything we could imagine.
In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen!
Author: Kimberly A.S. Williams