I believe the Lord is speaking comfort into disruptions, delays, and painful wait times.
He wants you to know that He is with you—in fact, right now, you are in a Divine appointment!
You may have experienced loss, but your God specializes in restoration. And He has a harvest for you.
The “Real Stuff”
Sometimes, we find ourselves stuck in what seems to be an inconvenient delay.
And we can’t wait to get through it quickly—so we can get to the “real stuff” God wants us to do!
Yet all the while, our Father is saying,
“You are not only on the way to your destination. You are in My Divine appointment right now!
I am with you, and I am for you.”
This is what happened to the Apostle Paul.
The Bright Spot on the Horizon
Just as the book of Acts is drawing to a close, Paul’s situation seems to be going from bad to worse.
He is a prisoner of the Romans—and after a long delay, Paul is finally on the way to Rome for sentencing.
The bright spot on the horizon is that God has called Paul to Rome! And he is aware God is using this trial to get him there.
But then, violent winds blow up, and the boat becomes shipwrecked.
Now, the disaster has left them stranded on the island of Malta.
People are on God’s Heart
There are people that you are only going to touch because you landed somewhere you didn’t expect.
And in Acts 28:2, we read, “The islanders showed us unusual kindness.”
Here, there are 276 people who are cast up onto the island—Paul and Luke included.
Some of these are travelers, others are Roman prisoners and guards. And there’s a Centurion named Julius.
This is the love of our God—and this is the passion of our God. He loves the unlovely!
There’s a Harvest in Your Delay
Now, God is giving this motley group of travelers an opportunity to see His power at work.
But not only that, here are the local people, the islanders of Malta:
- A small people group who are unreached
- They haven’t heard the Gospel of Jesus
Who has God placed around you at this time?
Your Father has appointed a harvest, in the very place you have experienced a disruption!
A Breakout of Healing Power
There, in a dark place, Paul ministers healing.
For the first time, the islanders see the works of the Kingdom and learn about Jesus’ love and power.
We read in verse 8:
“And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.”
And so begins a breakout of the healing power of Jesus.
Right now, a healing awakening is on God’s agenda for our own generation.
The Journey was Significant
One day, my husband Malcolm and I watched a documentary chronicling the life and journey of the Apostle Paul.
And it astonished me when the commentator only made a passing reference to Paul’s stay in Malta.
- Yet, this journey was of such significance that the Holy Spirit had Luke—who was the writer of Acts—dedicate two chapters to this event!
So, why did God allow the disaster and detour to Malta?
God Turns Your Pain Towards His Purpose
By this time, Paul has completed three major missionary journeys. He has strategically planted churches in significant hubs throughout the Roman Empire so that the Gospel can go out from there.
- Some estimate, he’s traveled over 10,000 miles! [2]
- Now, the apostle has his sights set on Rome, God’s ultimate calling for him
Paul has done all he has been called to do and the end goal—Rome—is in view.
But for the love of God, who allows an unexpected detour.
For Paul’s missionary days are not over.
Favor in Unexpected Places
What an amazing God we serve, He loves people with magnificent passion.
No one is left out.
And because of this, God may interrupt your well-ordered schedule.
At times, He will even allow your discomfort to drop you into His purposes. But He will turn the bitter into sweet.
In the place of loss, you discover God has given you new friends.
And—you find favor in unexpected places.
God has Appointed a Harvest for You
Next, God uses the islanders to shower Paul and the group of survivors with kindness.
They give them the provisions they need for the next part of their journey.
And we read in Acts 28:10 “They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.”
Perhaps, you have experienced a delay, or a disruption rocked your world.
But the favor of God is on your life and that makes all the difference.
For right here, right now—God has appointed a harvest for you.
Notes:
[1] The name Malta in Greek is “Melite”, which means “honey” (see Strong’s G3194)
[2] See here for example
Related Posts:
This is my fourth and final prophetic study on this story of Paul. The first three are here:
- Prophetic Word: The Setback Will Become Your Sweet Spot
- I Heard God Say, “I Am Resurrecting Your Dream!”
- God is Turning Your Mess into a Message
Leave a Comment:
Can you relate to this prophetic word about God turning disruption and delay into a harvest? I’d love to hear from you, so leave your message or prayer request in the comments below!
Study Online: Classes for Those Growing in Prophecy:
- Would you like clear and easy to understand, Biblical teaching on the prophetic gift and ministry?
- Do you need some straightforward keys to get you on track as you learn and develop in prophecy?
I’ve been privileged to receive extraordinary prophetic mentoring, as one of a ministry team of prophets and teachers with David McCracken Ministries.
But it hasn’t always been that way. When it comes to spiritual gifts, I know what it is like to go on a long journey, and often a lonely one.
My own experience of struggling to find good mentoring is why I am extremely passionate about helping others learn how to hear God’s voice, and grow in their gifts of prophecy and discernment.
The best mentoring and teaching I can give you is now rolled into this one place, on the Enliven School of Prophecy and Discernment.
Classes include: How to hear God’s voice, How to Begin and Grow in Prophecy, The Character of the Prophet, The Seer Gift: How to Grow in Pictures and Visions, Prophetic Discernment, Discernment, and Prophetic Warnings, and the Prophetic Guidance Master Class.
You can view and sign up for my self-paced video lecture series in the Enliven Prophetic School here. Choose between a small monthly subscription or a one-off payment with no expiry date.
© 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.
Thank you woman of God, this indeed is a word from the spirit . Am going through such season and I receive this prophetic word in Jesus name. It look am stuck, delayed and pained but at the same time I see the hand of God working in me and through me. I recently moved to another city via the leading of the Holy Spirit to plant a church, I took a step of faith to go and take a look at the land and I have to put up with my wife’s family members, I didn’t plan to stay long but things didn’t went as I hoped and now am like stuck staying with this family for over a year now not able to rent my own apartment, put just like Paul, God has used my presence in this home to bring healing/deliverance to the owner of the home. Within this one year she was under spiritual attack on her hip joint and she couldn’t stand and walk on the leg, like a week before this incident God reveal it to me, when it manifested physically I came and prayed and to the glory of God she was healed instantly. Hallelujah, secondly the son in another city was poisoned while he went out drinking with friends and in the middle of the night I was called upon and I prayed via the phone and Jesus healed him instantly. I guess there was a purpose I stayed beyond the time I expected. I believe God and trust Him for favour.
I am blessed this morning with this wonderful message .It is a time I see my self not moving any further due difficulties arising my ways in the ministry I m serving as a pastor and administrator .It encourages me not to give up. I glorify the name of the Lord that has made you touch this area. Be blessed
Be blessed also Mildred, be encouraged, lifted up, and be filled with God’s goodness and His Word.
May you feel full and able to give out of the overflow into the wonderful service God has given you.
Helen.
Perfect timing for this word I so needed this.
God Bless you and
Thank you
Kathy
God bless you Kathy and thanks
HELEN CALDER
It such a wonderful time to hear from you May almighty father release his anointing as you pray for the nation. And take us to the speed of prosperity.
This is a power prophetic exegesis of Paul’s missionary journey. The way it was broken down is so refreshing. God orchestrates pain for his children at times to bring out the best in them. What a powerful God we serve! I know my present challenges is bringing out the best of God in my life. His presence is me and all will work for my good. I pray for an uncommon prophectic and apostolic dimension of grace the world has never experienced. I pray for raw manifestation of the prophectic for the end time revival. I pray that my God-promised twins would appear and will be given birth to this year. My light shine and darkness comprehended it not. I pray for divine settlement concerning my wife in all ramifications. I would not fall. I pray for the grace to stand for God all times and remain faithful. I pray to work in perfect health all the days of life. Sickness has no part in my body anylonger. Thank you Jesus for answered prayers.
Hi Helen,
I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus
My name is Mluleki I am married father of three children in South Africa, I just want to thank you for always allowing the Holy Spirit to use you in building the lives of many souls even though you don’t know us, it is the Love of the Lord Jesus in you that is making the works through you.
I replied to this email some time back asking for your agreement with me in faith for the total restoration of my life, I did not see your reply maybe the fault is on my side,
Please stand with me in agreement as mentioned above, I believe that God is already using you to get to me through your gift of prophecy as I relate to all your prophecies, I am currently in stuck in life with no progress or any think exiting, I lost my job two years back due to covid 19 pandemic, I received all my funds from my employers and I used it to buy a house for my family of five including me, I then thought I was doing the right thing when I invested some of it but things did not work out to my advantage and as a result I lost about R100,000 some of it in scammers, I am now left with debts and no work, my three children aged 15, 13 and 8 are suffering becouse of my wrong decisions, I believe that God has the power to restore all that the enemy has stolen from me and He has already paid the price of my debts through His son Jesus precious blood,
Thank you very much Helen I am looking forward to God’s power to restore my life totally and to more of your teachings and gift of prophecies
Kind regards
Mluleki
SA