Obstacles we don’t understand can get in the way of living out our purpose.
They often derail us and even cause us to give up!
Understanding what to expect and how to tackle obstacles is invaluable!
Here are some common obstacles people battle with in the process of discovering and activating their life purpose, and some tips on how to tackle them:
OBSTACLE ONE – Not gaining alignment or agreement with those around you
Those that know and love you will not necessarily be on board with what you discover your purpose is. They may not encourage you. (If they do that’s excellent! You are blessed). But for those of you who do not get encouragement and agreement, be prepared for this, don’t let it surprise you. You don’t need 100% agreement from everyone to pursue what God has shown you. God will give you someone who will believe in you and support you, but it may not be whom you expect and hoped for. Abraham left his family and the area that he was born in. Joseph did too. So did Moses. And countless others. God had something different for these Biblical characters we read, know and love. They had to leave family and friends and the familiar to pursue their callings.
OBSTACLE TWO – Not understanding your purpose ‘uniqueness’
Your purpose is may quite likely look completely different to anything else your family has ever done. It may be different to your peer group of friends. Don’t expect it to be the same as those around you. God has created each of us completely uniquely. The plans He has for you, could be out of the box from what those around you expect and have experienced. Don’t limit yourself to fit in and be the same.
Again, if you think about so many of the Biblical characters we know, they ended up operating in a completely different area than their family had or their peers from childhood. King David, for example, and the characters mentioned above.
OBSTACLE THREE – Your purpose may not be in what you have experience in
You may not have experience in the area that you are led to that is your purpose. Only a few Biblical characters that we read about in the Bible did the same thing from their early adult days to the end of their lives. Most had a big change from one thing to another, at one or more points in their lives.
The disciples all had other jobs before they became disciples. Some were fishermen. There was a doctor. The call that God has on your life will get activated most likely later in your life, after He has trained and equipped you in a totally different arena to what He is calling you to. Knowing this, will hopefully give you the courage to be prepare for big change and to get ready to make the leap.
OBSTACLE 5 – You may need to ‘go against the grain’ and popular opinion
What God has destined you for will involve risk (faith) and will most probably involve going against the grain or popular opinion. It is worth it. You will get more fulfilment than you can imagine. But let’s not brush over this. You may have to stand out. You may get persecuted. You won’t be popular with everyone. You will lose favor in some areas and gain it in other areas.
Some people will assertively and maybe even aggressively oppose you. All of this doesn’t mean you’ve got it wrong and haven’t discovered your purpose. Be encouraged it is a sure sign that you are spot on! The enemy focuses on opposing those fully pursuing and living out their purpose, as they have greatest impact. Because living out your purpose means you will have found your deepest hearts desires and passion for how you want to change the world, you will have the stamina and resilience to deal with all of this. God is on your side and has given you an immense amount of authority, you just need to believe it, activate it and walk in it!
Pursing your purpose may feel difficult at times. There will be obstacles. This doesn’t mean you have got it wrong.
Which bible character can you think of that didn’t have it tough? Which Biblical character did not have to face difficulties and obstacles? These are normal.
Giving up when obstacles come along isn’t your purpose. There is much learning to gain from understanding our obstacles. They come along for so many reasons, and for so many purposes. They can be because of things in us God wants us to sort out. They can be because of spiritual forces. And many other things. What we do know is that God works ALL THINGS out for the best! Something to remember at each and every juncture.
Getting coaching from our co-creative coaching model is invaluable, as it will help you to understand patterns that happen towards your calling, how God uses difficult times and how these prepare you. You will also recognise when it’s your own mindset or behaviour that’s holding you back and how to overcome this.
Want to be coached into breakthrough to overcome your obstacles? Check out Destiny Activator or 1 to 1 coaching
Want to learn to coach people through there obstacles and activate them into their purpose? Check out our online coach training school