Have you ever stepped into an unexpected new season? It may have been a role or situation you didn’t plan or feel ready for.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this insight:
“God wants us to be novices in the new, not experts in the old”.
And I believe this is a prophetic reminder for many today. [1]
Many of us long for clarity before we move forward. Yet, God calls us before we feel ready—even when we’ve waited a long time!
This is the nature of stepping into something new.
Trusting God When You Feel Unprepared in Your New Season
Here are some key insights I’ve reflected on recently:
1. Prepare Your Heart Rather Than Perfecting Plans
“You have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4)
A new season comes with no familiar roadmap or experience.
So, how do we prepare for something we’ve never done before?
Joshua gave a simple yet profound answer:
“Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5)
As we scramble to perfect our plans, God calls us aside to prepare our hearts.
Offering Your Heart in the New Season
I’m realizing why I needed those unscheduled days of retreat and prayer last month! [2]
Here are some approaches that have helped me:
- Position yourself in surrender, humility, and faith
- Reading the Bible with fresh eyes (I return to the Psalms during times of reflection)
- Release regrets, hurts, and offenses. Forgive and receive God’s healing (journaling helps)
- Surrender the need for control and trust God’s leadership
- Express your hunger for Him
Expect the Holy Spirit to move—even when you don’t see how everything will unfold.
2. Trust Him Before You See the Full Picture of the New Season
When God called Abraham, He didn’t give him a step-by-step plan. He simply said,
“Go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).
Similarly, when God leads us into something new, He rarely provides the roadmap in advance!
But the Father’s invitation is to trust Him before we see the full picture.
“…for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7)
3. Look for Where God has “Prepared a Table”
A new season does not always come with immediate clarity and confidence.
- Sometimes, it can feel like a battle as we wrestle with inadequacy, doubt, and exhaustion
In the spiritual realm, the enemy is resisting our progress.
But in that uncertain place of new beginnings, God has already prepared everything we need.
The Lord spoke to me again through this recently:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5)
I felt anticipation and joy!
But then He added, “There’s a table I have laid for you that you will only partake of as you obey Me in this.”
Suddenly, I had a change of perspective! Though I was reluctant to step into the new, I realized that if I didn’t move forward, I would miss out on the portion God had prepared for me.
Feasting in the New Season
Naturally, we want feelings of confidence or satisfaction in work well done.
Or we look to our hearts for a sense of faith.
But the feast isn’t found in our feelings—these come and go.
The true feast is in the Father’s delight, as He takes joy in our faltering yet faithful obedience.
- It is in His supply of grace and His Spirit with us
- The banquet is in the stories of those impacted and the fruit of lives transformed
- It is found in the fresh revelation of who Jesus is to us right now
We may stumble in the unfamiliar ground of the new.
But as we keep moving, God gives us glimpses of what lies ahead.
4. Embrace Being a “Novice in the New”
We often find ourselves thrust into a new season before we feel ready.
There may be a disruption we didn’t expect, a door that opens suddenly, or a call that requires immediate obedience.
Like a baby bird pushed out of the nest, we flap awkwardly, finding our wings as we go. And in a sense, this never stops—each new opportunity brings a fresh learning curve!
And this is powerful:
- You are dependent upon God’s grace and power
- Realizing you don’t “have it all together” fosters humility—and that’s a good thing!
- Dependence upon God pulls you back to prayer
You may not have sought change, but it hasn’t taken God by surprise. Right now, receive new wisdom from God.
5. Realize the Unfamiliar is Humbling, but it’s Where Miracles Happen
A new season often brings challenges.
We may have to learn new skills because our old methods are outdated.
What if, right now, God is calling you into something beyond your expertise?
This can be unsettling—honestly, really humbling.
- Maybe we don’t have all the answers
- Or face the challenge of picking up something we used to do
- We feel vulnerable and unprepared
- Perhaps we are stepping into visibility before we feel ready
I imagine Peter experienced this when he stepped out of the boat.
He started strong, but as soon as he focused on the wind and waves, he sank. Yet, Jesus immediately reached for him (Matthew 14:29-31).
Even when we falter, God delights in our obedience. He doesn’t expect perfection—He desires faith.
And that’s where the miracles happen.
Reflection
If you relate to this, here are some questions for reflection:
- Where is God calling you to trust Him in this season?
- Is there a step of faith you’ve been hesitating to take?
- Do you sense Him preparing a new path, even if you don’t see the full picture?
- What promise from His Word can you hold onto as you move forward?
Comment
I’d love to hear from you! What new step is God leading you into? Leave a comment below and let me know how I can pray for you in this season.
Notes:
[1] See this post, where I explain this: Novices in the New: God Has a New Normal For You
[2] I shared about this in my last blog post about Hunger for God
Related Posts:
- Open Door: How to Enter Your New Prophetic Season
- Novices in the New: God Has a New Normal For You
- How to Release Regret and Embrace Your New Season
A Fresh Season Unfolding: My Update
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© 2025 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.
This Word was God-ordained for me! Thank you for obeying the Holy Spirit and explaining the ‘New season when you feel unprepared’. I am embarking upon new ground and feel like a novice …..after many years of Prophetic Ministry. To God be the glory for clarity. Please continue to let the Holy Spirit use you. Blessings, Gladys
May your new ground be fruitful, Gladys, and may you discover greater joy, and grace upon grace ahead!
“He is a Rewarder”
Hello Helen
I really appreciate this word. I’m currently at a crossroads type decision. Too many times in our walk with God He has shown my family
His Grace and Favour. Yet I feel that this is one of the biggest tests of my Faith. I’ve decided to embark on a new business adventure. Everything however just seems so disjointed. I just cannot put the plan together. I know that God CAN. I’m just not sure if He WILL? I’M feeling disappointed in myself because God has been so so favorable in my other endevours. Could you please pray that Proverbs 3:4-6 be strongly imparted into my heart,mind & soul and that I be assured of His faithfullness again.
Helen I look forward to your prophetic teachings as they’ve been an immense source of faith building and confirmation to me. God richly bless you.
Thank you, Mervin, it is so good to hear from you. May he bless your endeavors and give you the peace to lean into him when you don’t have understanding.
I pray you find the building blocks and strategy to move forward with confidence. Divine wisdom in abundance
I feel like I have to step out of my marriage. It like a hostage and it’s now 23years in the marriage that doesn’t give me peace.
My husband is violent drunker. I really don’t have peace.
Im a church elder
I had enough…
Hello Maboitumelo
I’m so sorry to hear of the difficulty you have experienced. I pray that you find safe people who will be a refuge and champion you, and safe places, along with God’s provision. The Lord has your calling and you can entrust it to the One who loves you
Hi Helen – this is so very helpful to read this morning, I can’t write publicly on here the big season of change my wife and I are going through right now, but the points about stepping out the boat and surrendering the need for control really hit home. We have to please God, not people. And in doing so we want to do things in a way that is honourable at all times, but at the same time remembering that we are not responsible for how people may react, because change is unsettling. May God continue to bless you in your ‘new season’!
Blessings as always from Wales, James
James, praying for you both right now, I believe harvest is on God’s heart for you
(Keep in touch, we’d love to hear more) Love from Down Under
Hi Helen, I’ve sent an email to your enliven publishing email, love and blessings!
Hello Helen, Thank you for this timely teaching, prophetic insight, scripture & your voice of encouragement. Your email arrived shortly after I sought the Lord, earlier this morning very specific direction and timing.
…. After I retired, the Lord gave me an assignment that required me to relocate and immerse culturally; my eyes were opened wide to the plight and reality of aging, elder persons & human rights issues during the past 3+ years.
As I near the end of this assignment, is like waiting on the Lord for the delivery doctor to arrive.
Hello Marijke, I pray the sense of direction comes into focus for you, and you see the fruition of your love and work in the community. His mercies are new every morning
Helen,
Thank you for this word. I am 74 years old, and my wife and I live in Utica, New York. I am in a state of transition. God called us to move so we could be closer to the church we attend. He made it clear that he was closing the doors of ministry where we were living because He has new assignments and alignments for us. I don’t feel God is finished writing my story. Please pray that God will make clear what those new assignments and alignments are. Again, thank you for your word.
Ameen Aswad
Hi Ameen, His hand is on you both for flourishing, may the way be clear, even though it’s one step at a time, He knows the way forward
Psalm 37:3-6 says
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
My name is George Richards. I am a Messianic Jew that resides in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA). The time was 1:30 AM (Eastern Time Zone). I just now woke up from a very powerful prophetic dream. In this dream I saw myself with a prophetic army of individuals that I have never met before doing spiritual warfare against the army of the Kingdom of Darkness. The theme of this battle was Holy Ghost Fire. As I was participating in this battle with the Prophetic Army of God I could hear the chorus singing these words. “BURN IN JESUS NAME, IN JESUS NAME, BURN IN JESUS NAME.” As I was pointing my finger at the demons along with the Prophetic Army of God I could feel the strong emotional power of righteous indignation as these demons were literally burning inside the Army of the Kingdom of Darkness. This was not a group of happy go lucky so called Christians holding hands and singing “Kumbia.” This was some serious spiritual warfare taking place. If this doesn’t qualify as being a novice in the new then I don’t know what it is. I felt that I needed to share this dream on the website and I welcome any comments. Even now I am still pondering on this dream. Sincerely, George Richards.
that is a powerful dream, George
there is a lot going on in the spiritual realm in these days, a time to band together and step into Kingdom authority as never before.
I’m reminded of that verse Psalm 110:3 “Your people will volunteer freely [be willing] on the day of Your power”
Praise the Lord. I have started on a new job and it’s all coming together as per God’s promises for the new season. Thank you for reaching out to us in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. I need prayers for strength, health, perseverance and spiritual guidance.
Thank you Helen.
Hello Skhumbuzo,
amen and amen to that! May you be blessed and advance in your new work
Hi Helen, praise the Lord. Greetings to you and family. Many for the timely posts on this, your blog.
I’ve been following you for some time and usually read your Spirit-led messages.
I personally believe God is doing a new thing in my life, yet I don’t have it’s clarity. Since October, 2013 I’ve been involved in outreach/ soul winning programs in my home country Uganda and neighbouring countries in East Africa.
Of late, I’ve encountered quite some encumbrances of life, not knowing the exact cause.
In October 2024, I began to hear and sense the new things God is doing, yet I don’t have clarity of it.
So kindly pray for me that I may embrace and walk into the new things He is doing even if I’m novice in it.
Blessings.
Jim Harold
I’m praying for you Jim, that you may walk with a new sense of worship and wonder in the new things God has for you and the ministry. May you have renewed strength in it all