Have you ever been impacted by a choice someone else made—and it was a decision that you didn’t agree with?
This is a situation many of us can relate to.
Perhaps, you didn’t have a say and you felt disempowered or hurt by what happened.
Today, I believe God is saying, “Not only can I turn your mess into a message, but I can turn that mess someone else landed you in, into a life-giving message.”
He wants you to know that He is sovereign and faithful!
And you will emerge triumphantly.
Someone Else’s Unbelief Sent Her into Battle
This is what happened to Deborah, who was appointed by God to be both judge and prophet to Israel. [1]
One day, she delivered a message from God to Barak: “Gather an army and head into battle against Sisera and his army of chariots. I will deliver him into your hand.”
He replied, “If you do not come with me, I will not go!”
God never said that Deborah should go with Barak into battle.
So, her presence in the conflict was only due to Barak’s reluctance to trust God!
But just as God was with Deborah, God is with you! And we have the inspiring stories of how God used two women—Deborah and Jael—in the events that followed. Other people put them in a difficult position but they spearheaded a powerful victory.
Not only that but the Bible later records Barak as one of the “heroes of the faith”! (Heb 11:32)
What a powerful testimony of God’s grace and delivering power.
You Spoke Up, But Your Insight was Ignored
In Paul’s situation, someone else bungled it, and he had to live out the consequences. [2]
In Acts 27, we read that before their ship set out from port, Paul gave a strong warning to the decision-makers, including the Roman Centurion in charge of his group.
“Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship but also our lives.”
Nevertheless, the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.” (Acts 27:9-11, NKJV)
So, Paul declared,
- “If you set off now, there’s going to be loss of the ship and cargo and the lives of people”
But sadly, the Centurion disregarded Paul’s warning.
God is Working Out His Will
The Centurion only saw a prisoner of the Romans when he looked at Paul. But he would soon discover that Paul was an Apostle, mighty in the Kingdom of God!
And this sometimes happens to prophetic people and discerners:
You have a prophetic insight—you know there is a better way to go—but others disregard your wisdom.
Now, like Paul was, you are caught up in a difficult or even dangerous situation.
But in the midst of the problem, God is working out His will!
This is the redeeming nature of your Heavenly Father.
“God has Spared Your Life”
That other person is accountable to God and will bear their own consequences, but your forgiveness releases the favor of God on your life.
Remember, Paul knew that no matter what else happened, his life would be spared—he had a word from God that he was going to Rome.
And here is God’s grace and the power of forgiveness. In the middle of the storm, Paul was able to say to that Centurion—who ignored his warnings and took them on a perilous journey—“God has spared your life.”
That was after he couldn’t resist saying, in effect, “I told you so!”
Your Response Will Bring Forth a Testimony
If you can relate to this word today, receive God’s grace right now.
God is taking that mess—even that mess someone else landed you in—and He is turning it into a message that will glorify Him!
For God is a Redeemer and you belong to him.
And like Deborah and Paul, your response will bring forth a testimony that will impact generations to come.
Notes:
[1] See this full story in Judges chapters 4-5.
[2] This story is from Acts 27-28 (see related posts below)
Related Posts:
This is the third study on this series on the story of Paul. The first two are here:
Prophetic Word: The Setback Will Become Your Sweet Spot
I Heard God Say, “I Am Resurrecting Your Dream!”
Leave a Comment:
Can you relate to this prophetic word today? Which Bible story can you most relate to? The story of Paul and Malta and how God works out His plan, even when our first plans get smashed up, has personal significance when I look back at our journey. I’d love to hear from you, so leave your message or prayer request in the comments below!
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© 2022 Helen Calder, Enliven Blog
Enliven Ministries: Prophetic ministry for a revival generation
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.
Thanks ! this is me I needed the encouragement .
This message is so timely! Paul’s story greatly resonated and I am comforted by the reminder that God is Faithful and truly redeems like no one else can. God bless you always, Helen!
Dear Helen
God has been drawing my attention repeatedly to several characters in the Word over the past few years, ie Job, Joseph, Daniel, Gideon, Joshua, Nehemiah, Haggai, Esther, Jonah, Elijah, Elishah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Moses, Miriam, Woman with issue of blood, Abraham, Deborah, Hagar, Sarah, over and above certain themes.
So many times your e-mails would arrive in my inbox literally within as little as a day or two after to serve either as a reminder and/or give another perspective altogether.
God is truly gracious and I have been blessed and encouraged by your messages since subscribing in 2016/17. Your ministry is an inspiration.
Mummy! God bless you for allowing yourself to be used by God as a blessing to me, the prophetic messages are timely to me always. I still need your prayers because there is an attack on my ministry by some leaders. They wants my removal from the ministry. My name is Rev.Oti Mensah Noah
Thank you for world’s of encouragement am glad God bless you ma’am,may the grace of God locate me
Hi Helen, what a blessing you are, an encourager in the Faith. God has used all you have been through, (especially the rough times ) that the enemy could have used for evil, but Father God used them for good to share with others. Apostle Paul was such an example, misunderstood, not believed but learnt the power of praise, while waiting for God to move, even in stocks in prison.
I’m also in Gods waiting room at the moment, I know He has His hand on my life, for this new season, I just wish He would occasionally give the blueprint for me to see. !!!! I find my mind wandering even in my quiet times, and have to constantly bring it back.