Manifesting Your Destiny?

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, a trend has emerged that is captivating teenagers: manifesting. Promoted as a pathway to success, happiness, and personal fulfilment, manifesting is a concept that many young people encounter daily online. It is commonly understood as the practice of visualising desires, repeating affirmations, and believing that by focusing intently on a goal, one can bring it into reality.

For Christian parents, children’s and youth ministers, and church leaders, this raises important questions: How do we speak biblically and theologically into this phenomenon? How do we help young people distinguish between healthy ambition and a worldview that places humanity at the centre rather than God? This blog explores what manifesting is, how it may be influencing teenagers, and how we can engage them with a richer, gospel-shaped response.

What is Manifesting?

Manifesting promotes the idea that by focusing on specific desires—whether academic success, a relationship, or material gain—and by thinking positively or “speaking” these desires into existence, a person can attract these outcomes. This practice is deeply influenced by New Age spirituality and the “Law of Attraction,” which teaches that the universe will align to grant our desires if we think and act in harmony with them.

On the surface, manifesting may seem harmless—perhaps even motivating young people to dream big and work hard. However, beneath the glossy Instagram posts and viral TikTok videos, manifesting promotes a worldview that conflicts with the biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty, providence, and human purpose.

Theologically, manifesting appeals to an ancient human temptation: the desire for self-sufficiency, the illusion of controlling our own destiny, and the aspiration to be the authors of our own lives. It echoes the serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden, when he enticed Eve with the notion that she could be “like God” (Genesis 3:5)—self-reliant, independent, and in control. Scripture, however, reminds us that only God is sovereign over the universe, and our calling is to trust in His will, not our own (Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 19:21).

Where Might You See It?

Manifesting may not always be overt, but it subtly shapes how young people perceive the world and their relationship with God. Here are some ways it appears:

1. Social Media Influence: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are saturated with influencers promoting manifesting as the key to their success. Many claim they “manifested” their dream life through visualisation or verbal affirmations. Impressionable teenagers, immersed in these platforms, are drawn to such promises of self-determined success.
2. Self-Help Culture: Manifesting is part of a broader self-help movement that champions personal power, self-sufficiency, and the idea that we are the masters of our own fate. This perspective can lead young people to view success as something achieved solely by personal effort, rather than through God’s providence and grace.
3. Vision Boards and Affirmations: Popularised by celebrities and influencers, vision boards—collages of images representing personal goals—are a tool of manifesting. Daily affirmations such as “I am worthy of success” or “I will attract love” reinforce the belief that one’s destiny is shaped by personal intention rather than God’s sovereign will.
4. Peer Conversations: The language of manifesting is becoming common among teenagers. Phrases like “just manifest it” reflect an underlying belief that by thinking positively or declaring their desires, they can shape their future.

Why Should We Be Concerned?

At its core, manifesting promotes a worldview that elevates self-determination and human control over trust in God. The Bible, however, presents a different view of who directs our lives and shapes our future. Consider these key theological concerns:

1. God’s Sovereignty vs. Human Control: Manifesting suggests that our thoughts and actions ultimately control our destiny. Yet Scripture consistently teaches that God alone is sovereign (Isaiah 46:9-10). While we are called to work diligently (Colossians 3:23-24), our futures rest in God’s hands, not our own. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
2. Replacing God with the Universe: Manifesting often invokes “the universe” as the force that grants desires—an idolatrous replacement of the personal, sovereign God. Romans 1:25 warns against exchanging the truth of God for a lie, worshipping creation rather than the Creator.
3. Self-Centred vs. Christ-Centred Living: Manifesting focuses on personal desires, whereas Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25). True discipleship is not about self-fulfilment but about surrendering our lives to God’s purposes.
4. The Reality of Suffering and God’s Purposes: Manifesting falsely suggests that right thinking can eliminate suffering. However, Jesus assures us that trouble is inevitable in this world (John 16:33). The Bible teaches that trials refine us and draw us closer to God (Romans 5:3-5), shaping us for His purposes rather than our own self-made success.

How to Speak Into It

Engaging with young people about manifesting requires a balance of biblical truth and pastoral sensitivity. Here are some key approaches:

1. Affirm Their Longings: The desires teenagers have—for success, love, and security—are not inherently wrong. The Bible teaches that God knows and cares about our desires (Psalm 37:4). Encourage young people to bring their hopes before God in prayer, trusting in His wisdom and timing.
2. Teach God’s Sovereignty and Goodness: Help young people understand that while wise decision-making and hard work are important, God ultimately directs our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us that God’s plans are for our welfare, not something we must manipulate into existence.
3. Model a Christ-Centred Life: Show teenagers that true fulfilment is found not in getting what we want but in aligning our lives with Christ’s purposes. Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21—“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”—remind us that life’s ultimate meaning is found in knowing and following Jesus.
4. Clarify the Purpose of Prayer: Manifesting distorts the biblical understanding of prayer, turning it into a self-centred exercise. Teach that prayer is about relationship with God, not about controlling outcomes. Jesus’ model prayer teaches us to seek God’s will above our own (Matthew 6:10).
5. Encourage Humility and Surrender: Rather than focusing on self-determination, guide young people to entrust their future to God. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a vital passage to share: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

So Helping Teens Navigate the World of Manifesting

Manifesting may be a trending social media phenomenon, but its underlying philosophy is as old as the Fall—the belief that we can control our own destinies. As Christian parents, youth ministers, and church leaders, we have the privilege of pointing young people to a better, biblical way.

True hope, fulfilment, and success do not come from visualising or manifesting our desires but from trusting in the sovereign God who loves us and leads us. By helping teenagers build their lives on the firm foundation of God’s providence and grace, we equip them to stand strong in a culture that tempts them with self-reliance. Let’s guide them away from the shifting sands of self-help spirituality and onto the solid rock of Christ and His purposes.