What to Do When Your Leaders Don’t Recognize the Calling on Your Life
Do you know there’s a big calling on your life but feel like you’re the only one who sees it? One of the most painful things that can happen when you know you’re made for something great is for your leaders not to see or recognize what you know in the depths of your heart to be true.
I see this happen a lot with prophetic people, so I talked about it at the School of the Prophets last week and shared my story as I never have before … all the way from my 3-year nervous breakdown, to God calling me to be a prophet, to the 15-year journey of waiting to see any movement on that word, to meeting Bill Johnson and to where I stand today and operating in the promise God spoke to me (in many ways, there’s still more I believe He’s going to do). You can watch the message at no cost on my YouTube channel but I also wanted to break down some of the key takeaways for you today.
In the Waiting
So you had a God-encounter, and you know you have a big calling on your life, but your leadership (and everyone else) doesn’t recognize it. The truth is that this is normal. Take a second and breathe if this is you today. You are not the exception, and the process from the promise to promotion is something every world-changer must walk through.
Between the promise and the palace is always the process. What I mean is that from the time God speaks something over your life, to the time you walk it out (the metaphoric palace) is a journey. If you figure out a way to get around the process and get through to the palace before you’re supposed to be, you won’t be able to stay there. It’s the process that gives you the character you need to stay in the palace.
Having been the guy in the palace, I can tell you that the palace isn’t any better than the process when you have Jesus. You may think “When I get to the palace, life will be so amazing,” or “When I’m finally recognized, I will be happy,” or “If they’d just put me on stage, I will finally feel fulfilled …” However, this kind of thinking will cause you to miss the joy of the process. The palace is great, but the journey is great too. Jesus is in both!
What I Know That You May Not Yet
Listen, I understand how frustrating it is. I know how it feels to be called by God, to believe it with your whole heart and then have your vision and excitement dwindle over time as you don’t see the fruition. I know what it’s like to long to be seen or for someone to come along and say, “You’re amazing!”
I also understand something that you may not yet—I understand how scary it is when someone introduces you as something you never knew anyone else saw you as, and then have to decide how to navigate favor. I understand the fear and anxiety that can come from being seen as something you don’t know if you’re ready for. I understand what it’s like to go from no one knowing you to everyone thinking you’re amazing—and let me tell you, that is much harder than being unknown. Being recognized comes with its own challenges, but the thing that may be the hardest challenge to overcome is the pressure from people who don’t even know you. I don’t say this for you to fear the palace. I’m simply saying every season of life has its own gifts and its own challenges.
So What Do You Do Now?
If you’re in the middle of the process, what I really want you to hear today is that this time is just as purposeful as when you will one day be in the palace. Use this time to ready yourself for the pressure that will come from being known. Strengthen yourself in God.
Be patient and hang in there. I didn’t understand the joy of the process and I really wish I had. Learn from my experience and take the time to see the gift in the season you’re in. Use the extra time you have now to learn and study and hone your gift. Practice walking in royalty now so that when you arrive in the palace, you don’t have to go through the pain of pressure without the preparation. Celebrate others when they experience favor as a deposit into your future. Do not give up hope, and carry the promises God has spoken over you in your heart, just as Mary did.
Are you in the middle of your process? Tell me about it in the comments below. I’d also love to hear any advice from those who have gone through similar journeys and are now on the other side of a promise.
If this resonated with you, be sure to check out the full message on YouTube. {eoa}
Kris Vallotton is the senior associate leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California, and cofounder of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). Kris travels internationally, training and equipping people to successfully fulfill their divine purpose. He’s a best-selling author, having written more than a dozen books and training manuals to help prepare believers for life in the kingdom. He has a diverse background in business, counseling, consulting, pastoring and teaching, which gives him unique leadership insights and perspectives. Kris has a passion to use his experience and his prophetic gift to assist world leaders in achieving their goals and accomplishing their mission.
This article originally appeared at krisvallotton.com.
