Recently, I felt the Holy Spirit pull my attention towards an object propped up against a corner of my office wall.
As I looked closer, I noticed it was the tiller from my husband’s small yacht. [1]
A tiller is used to steer a yacht. It is a lever and stick that connects to the rudder, which directs the boat to turn left or right.
Today, I believe God is saying to many, ‘I am calling you back to your life’s central purpose.’
‘When you are secure in My greatest purpose for your life, you will stay on track. I will lead you in ways that will astound and amaze you.’
Don’t Lose Your Purpose
I remembered that a few months ago, when my husband Malcolm went to the yacht club to sail his boat, he saw the tiller was missing.
Without that piece of equipment, he couldn’t sail.
He could get the boat into the sea; he could put up the sails. But without the tiller controlling the steering, that yacht would be at the mercy of the wind, waves and tide.
- With no tiller, the boat could end up anywhere—on the rocks, out to sea, or remaining at the shoreline
Like that tiller, when our core purpose is securely in place, it directs everything we say and do.
When we don’t have a firm grasp on our life’s central purpose, we can be buffeted about by circumstances, our feelings, or the opinions of others.
The Tiller was Restored
Malcolm returned home that day disappointed, because a new tiller could be expensive. He asked around the yacht club and heard nothing.
- But the next time Malcolm went to his yacht, there was another tiller in his boat!
It wasn’t his old one; it was a better, higher quality one. He was grateful for the kindness of an anonymous giver.
The Holy Spirit is at work, revealing the Father’s purpose for your life. And if you feel as though you have lost your heart’s sense of purpose, He is restoring it to you.
Overlooked by People but Chosen by God
In 1 Samuel 16, God sends the prophet Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel, from among Jesse’s sons.
Seven fine looking young men are paraded before Samuel.
Seven—it is the number of completion, of perfection—and yet God speaks to Samuel and says, ‘I haven’t chosen any of these’.
- When Samuel asks Jesse if there another son, he finds out there is one more boy who has been overlooked
David is the eighth son; he is the youngest and is out in the field taking care of the sheep. When he is finally presented, God says to Samuel, ‘Rise and anoint him. This is the one!’ (1 Sam 16:12)
This is God’s word to you today: ‘YOU are the one! I have chosen and anointed you. I call you, ‘Beloved!’
You are Called, ‘Beloved’!
The name David means, ‘beloved’ [2]. And this speaks of the heart of this young man’s purpose and identity:
- He loved God and knew he was loved by Him.
When no one was watching, when nobody cared—as he was doing menial duties in the fields—David was worshipping with all his heart.
Like David, your identity and your purpose, first and foremost, is that you are loved by God and chosen to be His.
And you may wonder why you are stuck in the mundane while you dream of greatness, but your Father says,‘I have not forgotten you! You are the one I have chosen!’
This is Your Security in Life’s Greatest Trials
Just as the yachtsman grasps the tiller—the boat’s steering—you can hold on, no matter how rough life gets. You are secure in your God-given identity and your reason for living.
Before David reached his destiny of kingship, came a terrifying moment when it seemed he had lost everything (1 Samuel 30) [3].
While David had led his men away on a fruitless mission, an enemy had come to their town Ziklag. Their homes were burned, their possessions ransacked and their families stolen away.
The men were so angry, they wanted to kill David.
At that critical moment, stripped of everything, David returned to his single guiding purpose. He turned to God (1 Sam 30:6).
When David had nothing left, he still had his relationship with God. He was able to trust.
And because of that, not only was everything restored to him, he was able to step into his destiny of kingship.
- When trouble comes, and things don’t seem to be working out the way you want or expect, know that you are secure in your central guiding purpose.
The Holy Spirit is at work today ministering to you, healing your heart. Hear the Father say, ‘You are significant. You are chosen. You are my Beloved’.
Notes:
[1] A photo of the tiller is in the above photo. Malcolm’s yacht is a small one-person (2 max) sailing and racing yacht (or sailing dinghy) called a laser.
[2] Strongs H1732
[3] See my article with more insight on this story of David and Ziklag here: ‘4 Things You Can Do in a Crisis’
© 2018 Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
Enliven Ministries
A part of the David McCracken Ministries family
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.

Your words really spoke to me.This week so many things that I have had to do I feel have squeezed out of my life my
‘rudder’and i’ve lost sight of my life’s purpose.I needed to hear that I am still the Lord’s beloved and he has chosen me.Health problems mean i’m unable to have much Christian fellowship but thank you for reminding me that God does have a purpose for my life.,and that He has chosen me,wow!The Lord has also been emphasising his desire for me to be holy’’I live in a high and holy place and with him who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word’.The Lord will perfect that which concerns the me.
I’m sorry to hear about your health problems Susan, praying for His healing power to touch you in Jesus’ Name.
You reminded me of this article which has blessed me: https://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2013/04/22/your-value-to-god-is-not-based-upon-what-you-do/
Hey Helen,
So great, I love how God speaks through the natural realm.
I use to work in a tool hire company and one of the pieces of equipment we would hire is a machine called a tiller ( used for turning soil) to prepare it for planting new growth. This is what came to mind when I started reading your article as I have never related that word to anything else.
Some of the things in your article that I relate to are David (my name) being in a field (a place to till soil, a replanting for new growth, but also David being the 8th Son, 8 the number of new beginnings)
One of the main things is how we need to connect with God to do our part, he provides the Ocean and the wind, but we need to organise ourselves with the yacht. (It sounds random how the tiller made it into your office )
Blessings Helen.
Yes I thought of the soil-turning tiller as well! It was only the ’tiller-gone-missing’ incident that has educated me on the yacht’s equipment (I knew sails and hull). It’s been relocated to home so it doesn’t get ‘borrowed’ again but I hadn’t noticed it sitting there for a while!
my spirit is encouraged with what you wrote about David.. I am a female Davidmaover looked and rejected by my family. But I know that I know that I am His beloved! I have not always known that.. that has only been a recent discovery. Thank you for your honest encouragement Helen. Love the picture your drew with the Tiller. that is a fabulous mental picture!
This prophetic word is on point, Helen! It describes exactly where I am. Thank you!!!!!!
Thank You So Much For The Word It Is Really Helping Children Of God. May God Bless You.
Yes…needed this. Will meditate on it and pray over and through it. Thank You, Jesus! Bless you, Helen.