Does it seem like the very opposite of your prophetic calling is happening right now, or that your faith is being tested through trial?

You are in good company. The heroes of Scripture underwent severe difficulties. The greatest trials often took place right before the breakthrough that would see them released into their God-given destiny.

We serve a faithful God and no person, and no circumstances can prevent His prophetic call upon our lives being fulfilled if we keep our hearts right before Him, stay in an attitude of obedience, and remain in a place of integrity and honor towards people.

And whenever we realize that we have departed from this position, the grace of God invites us to freely return.

Signs Your Prophetic Destiny is Being Unleashed

1. You are Undergoing the Greatest Trial of Your Life

David and his men returned to their homes and property in Ziklag, only to find that their homes had been burned, their property plundered, and their wives and families captured. To make matters worse, David’s men turned against him, blaming him for the tragedy.

David could easily have given up. However, he stayed on track, pressed into God and made tough leadership decisions. As a result, David and his men overcame the enemy, recovered their losses and won back their families. (1 Sam 30)

The devastation of Ziklag prepared David for his move to Hebron—the very place where he would be crowned King of Judah and then of all Israel. (2 Sam 2:1) [1]

2. The Obvious Means of Fulfilling God’s Call Seems to have been Removed

Ezekiel was a young man with the call of God upon his life. Born to the priestly tribe of the Levites, his destiny was to serve in the temple from the age of 30. (Ezek 1:1, Numbers 4:3)

At the age of 23 he was taken captive from Jerusalem and relocated in Babylon. Ezekiel’s primary means of fulfilling God’s call on his life—ministry in the temple—was removed from him.

However, we read in Ezekiel 1:1 that in his 30^th year, in the place of captivity, the very time he would have started his priestly service in God’s temple, the heaven’s opened and his ministry as Prophet was launched. (Ezek 1:1) [2]

3. A Person you Felt was Significant to God’s Purposes has been Lost to You

Uzziah, King of Judah spent most of his life serving God and his nation well—and the Prophet Isaiah diligently recorded the stories of his reign. (2 Chron 26:2)

Uzziah must have seemed like the hope of Judah—the King who set things to godly order and made the nation successful. And yet his life ended suddenly in a sinful act of pride.

This loss must have been devastating to Isaiah—and yet this was the year that God chose to reveal Himself and the glory of His Heavenly throne to Isaiah and to commission him to speak on God’s behalf. (Isaiah 6)

It is as though God was saying, ‘It is time to put your eyes on the Only One who can save Judah. I am your only security and all that you need. Now is the time to step up into your destiny as Prophet.’

4. There is a Huge Faith Challenge Standing Between You and the Promise of God

Caleb faithfully served God as a leader of his tribe through the 40 wilderness years of Israel.  But on the eve of the fulfillment of God’s promise to him and his family, he faced his greatest challenge yet—to take Hebron from the Canaanites. (Joshua 14) We learn that through Caleb’s leadership giants were expelled from the land. (Judges 1:19-20)

The fulfillment of God’s promise to Caleb was not going to happen without a battle—and the greatest test of his faith in and dependency upon God.

5. You have been Repositioned by God—and Suffered Loss as a Result

A young Moabitess called Ruth committed her life to follow and serve her mother-in-law, Naomi, after the death of her husband and father-in-law in Moab.

When Ruth entered Bethlehem she had not only lost her husband, she had left her family and culture behind and was known as a stranger. She had no means of living apart from relying upon charity. Everything of her former life was stripped away.

And yet in that very place, she was destined to marry Boaz, of the tribe of Judah, secure the inheritance of Naomi’s family, and become great-grandmother to King David—part of the lineage of Christ. (See the book of Ruth) [3]

6. You are Being Tempted to Promote Yourself Rather than Wait for God’s Timing and the Affirmation of Oversight

As Jesus was being launched into His season of ministry, the Holy Spirit compelled Him to go into the wilderness, to fast and face demonic temptation.

There in that place of severe want and hardship, Jesus was tempted to receive the kingdoms of the world without the cross, and without a life submitted to the Father’s will.

Emerging triumphant, His position of submission to the Father secure, Jesus left the wilderness ‘in the power of the Spirit’ to enter His public ministry. (Luke 4:1-14)

7. The Tyranny of the Ordinary: Nothing Seems to be Happening

For Elisha, the launching place of God’s purpose for his life was in the place of the ordinary. If he had any inkling of God’s call upon his life, then the trial for him was that nothing was happening. Nothing at all. A great big zero.

Elisha was living at home and serving in the family business. It was just another day in his life as an ordinary citizen, ploughing oxen, being faithful, when the Prophet Elijah came by and threw his mantle over Elisha’s shoulders. (1 Kings 19:19-21)

Success in God’s eyes comes from staying on track when the greatest challenges of your life occur.

These things are the means Father uses to sharpen and prepare you for what lies ahead.

• And they may be the very launching pad God uses to propel you into your prophetic destiny.

Notes:

[1] For more lessons from this situation, see ‘The Day David Lost Everything: 4 Things You Can Do In A Crisis

[2] For more lessons from the story of Ezekiel, ‘Prophet of the Holy Spirit’, see Ezekiel, the Holy Spirit, and You

[3] See the following two studies from Ruth on Enliven Blog:

• Take That Label Off And Agree With What God Says
• In Transition? Take the Next Small Step

Related Post:

4 Reasons why the Opposite of Your Prophetic Word is Happening

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

Enliven Ministries: in the David McCracken Ministries family

Helen Calder

Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.