Anointed for a Purpose: Thriving in the In-Between
Have you ever sensed a gentle tug deep inside, whispering that your life is part of a larger story than what you can see right now? That’s your purpose calling—and it comes wrapped in God’s anointing.
When God anoints, He doesn’t merely pour oil;
He sets you apart and empowers you by His Spirit for a mission only you can fulfill.
One of the most vivid biblical examples of this is the story of David.
A YOUNG SHEPHERD MARKED FOR GREATNESS
Imagine a young shepherd boy—his hands callused from tending sheep, his eyes fixed on the horizon. David’s first anointing came when he was still that boy, minding his father’s sheep. In the book of 1 Samuel, we see the prophet Samuel visiting Bethlehem and God pointing out the youngest son of Jesse—the one nobody expected. David may have been only ten to fifteen years old when that oil was poured on his head. On that day, nothing outwardly changed—he returned to his flock—yet God had stamped a promise on his life. Four•teen years would pass before David became king—fourteen years of quiet waiting, testing, and refining.
TRANSFORMATION IN THE WILDERNESS
Those years weren’t wasted. They were the furnace where David’s character and identity were forged. Before he faced Goliath, he learned courage in obscurity, he defendeded his father’s sheep from lions and bears. These hidden battles prepared him for the public battle. When he did face the giant, he carried more than a sling and stones—he carried a history of trusting God when no one else was looking.
After defeating Goliath, David became a hero. Songs sang of his valor, and his victories outshone Saul’s. Yet his anointing did not immediately make him king. Saul’s jealousy drove David into caves and wilderness hideouts, surrounded by men who were in debt, distressed, or discontented. Those men became his mighty warriors, bonded under his leadership, learning faith and loyalty. In his wilderness season, David fought invisible battles and learned to lead not from ambition—but from dependence on God.
REFUSING TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS
In the wilderness, David twice had an opportunity to kill Saul and end the chase—and both times he refused. “… Who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed?”, he asked. He trusted God’s timing more than his desire for relief. That restraint showed a heart aligned with God’s process rather than personal promotion. His heart remained soft, even in hardship.
The trials continued. David lost friends, lived under constant threat, and when Saul and David’s lovely friend, Jonathan, died in battle, an open path to the throne appeared—yet David didn’t rejoice at his rival’s death. He tore his garments, wept, and composed a lament honoring Saul’s bravery and kindness. Though he had been anointed long ago, he waited patiently, mourning instead of seizing. His grief revealed that bitterness had not taken hold—and his identity was built on pleasing God, not overthrowing others.
A KING SHAPED BY THE WAITING
When David finally became king at thirty, his reign didn’t happen abruptly. First, he was anointed king over Judah and ruled from Hebron for seven and a half years. Only later was he anointed king over all Israel, ruling from Jerusalem for another thirty-three years. In total, he reigned for forty years. That long gap between first anointing and full coronation highlights how God often builds His leaders in phases: a private calling, a season of obscurity and refining, and finally a public commission.
Every trial David faced—shepherding in obscurity, battling wild beasts, confronting Goliath, serving and fleeing from Saul, leading a band of outcasts, enduring loss and mourning— sharpened his identity. Each moment taught him to trust God more deeply and view his life through His promises rather than public acclaim. In wilderness solitude, David penned psalms of lament and trust, forging intimacy with God that anchored him as king.
THRIVING IN YOUR IN-BETWEEN
Maybe you feel like you’re in an “in-between” season—aware of your calling, yet hemmed in by circumstances.
David’s story invites you to see waiting not as wasted time but as God’s essential preparation. Purpose does not mean ease; it means being connected to God, grounded in truth, and ready with courage and joy. God is not waiting for you to perfect yourself before using you. Like Gideon hiding in a winepress, you may feel inadequate—but God sees a mighty warrior. The same Spirit (God’s Spirit) who anointed David and the prophets lives in you, speaking truth over your identity and lighting the path ahead.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
As you reflect on David’s journey and your own in-between season, consider these coaching prompts:
– What promises has God spoken over your life that you’re still waiting to see fulfilled? How might this season of waiting be shaping your character and deepening your trust?
– What “lion and bear” moments have prepared you for bigger battles? What hidden victories or challenges have quietly built your courage and faith?
– Where are you tempted to force your way forward instead of trusting God’s timing? What would it look like to surrender those plans and timeline, and embrace His pace?
– How can you make space to meet God in the secret place during your own in-between? Consider specific ways to seek the Holy Spirit’s voice—through prayer, Scripture, silence, or walking in nature—and invite Him to refine you.
HOW PAL’S COACHING CAN HELP
At PAL – Pursuing the Abundant Life, we believe that your anointing is already active even when you feel unseen.
Christian coaching helps you discern the gifts God has placed within you and map out practical steps toward living your purpose. It’s about aligning your heart with God’s vision, letting go of limiting beliefs, and walking confidently in the calling you’ve received.
PURPOSE IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO
BUT WHO YOU BECOME AS YOU GROW IN CHRIST.
When you embrace your anointing, you stop measuring yourself by the world’s standards and start living intentionally—with joy and resilience.
Are you ready to explore what God has in mind for you? Let’s journey together. We’ll help you uncover your calling, craft a strategy to live it out, and cheer you on as you walk in faith and courage.
YOU WERE NOT CREATED JUST TO GET BY
—YOU WERE ANOINTED TO THRIVE.
If you’d like to talk more, feel free to reach out via our PAL’s Christian coach and founder, Erica Yanney’s WhatsApp.
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