This past Sunday was Father’s Day, a day of mixed emotions. For some, it brought joy and celebration; for others, a quiet ache or a longing for what never was. Yet in the midst of it all, we were reminded that we each have a perfect Father in God, present, loving, and faithful even when earthly fathers fall short. At church, it was touching to see our brothers, fathers, uncles, and mentors honored. They left with gifts, small tokens, but a meaningful gesture that said they matter. And beyond the applause, our Heavenly Father was gently drawing hearts back to Him. Sometimes, peace is standing right in front of us, and we don’t even see it. The real question is: do we have the discernment to recognize Him?
During the first service, Pastor Waiganjo took us into the heart of Luke 19:41-43, where Jesus approaches Jerusalem and weeps. Not because of rejection or fear, but because they didn’t recognize the time of their visitation. They were too distracted to notice that Peace Himself, Jesus, had drawn near. This moment hits close to home. How many times have we walked past divine appointments because we were too caught up in life’s noise to discern what God was doing?
Discernment is the Father’s tool handed to His children to keep them from harm, guide them in truth, and anchor them in purpose. It’s a language of the Spirit, one that helps us separate truth from deception, God’s voice from our thoughts. Many believers are wounded not because they lack faith, but because they lack discernment. And in the days we’re living in, where even lies come cloaked in light, only discernment will keep us from falling.
In Acts 11:25-30, it wasn’t just prophecy that guided the early church; it was discernment. Agabus didn’t hear an audible voice, but his spirit picked something up. The church’s ability to grow, to give, and to move forward came from its capacity to see spiritually. And this doesn’t come from anywhere; it comes from the Word. Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is so sharp it divides soul from spirit, it discerns even the intentions of our hearts. If you’re confused, dry, or directionless, go back to the Word. You’ll find yourself in it.
Even Peter, who walked so closely with Jesus, once spoke words inspired by Satan because he couldn’t discern the source of his thoughts. Jesus rebuked him sharply: “Get behind me, Satan.” This should awaken us that it’s possible to walk with Jesus and still be off-track if our spirits aren’t trained. Hebrews 5:14 says discernment comes through training and exercise. It doesn’t just fall on us; we cultivate it through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual alertness.
It’s not everything good that is of God. The devil doesn’t always come in a red suit with three horns; sometimes he comes dressed in opportunity. 1 Kings 3:9 shows Solomon asking for a discerning heart, not riches. He knew that wisdom alone isn’t enough; clarity of spirit is vital. Discernment is wisdom in motion.
As Pastor Waiganjo emphasized, insecurity, noise, and sin choke discernment. But when we live in prayer and the Word, our spirit becomes attuned. Like Anna the prophetess, who discerned the Messiah in the temple as just a small child, we begin to see what others overlook. The church in Acts 16 grew not by ambition, but by listening. The Spirit told them not to go to Galatia, and they obeyed. Growth, direction, and fruit all flow from discernment.
In the family service, Pastor Donald Gichane reminded us that divine seasons don’t always come with beautiful packaging. The story of Joseph in Genesis 37 reveals this tension. God gave him dreams of greatness at 17, but the path to fulfillment was lined with betrayal, pits, slavery, and prison. Many of us have prophetic words and powerful visions, but everything around us feels the opposite. It’s tempting to doubt the dream when the process feels like punishment.
Pastor Donald cautioned us not to confuse God’s silence with absence. Just because you don’t see the move doesn’t mean the movement stopped. Sometimes God builds in silence because the enemy can’t attack what he cannot hear. You don’t have to explain your dream, live it.
One of our greatest battles is knowing what is ours to share and what is sacred to hide. Joseph spoke too soon out of immaturity. Some visions are meant to be watered in private before they bloom in public. Proverbs 17:27 reminds us that restraint is wisdom. Even Jesus only had three close friends He could take to the mountain, so why do we think our entire contact list needs to know our every move?
Another truth: conflict often confirms calling. When people begin to envy, mock, or resist you, it may not be a sign of failure; it may be a sign that the calling on your life is too heavy to be ignored. And while it hurts, don’t make permanent decisions from a temporary place.
We were urged to steward every season, not abandon it. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary in doing good. And Habakkuk 2:3 speaks to the delay: “Though the vision tarries, wait for it, it will surely come.” Some of us are in our interview season right now, not with Pharaoh, but with God. How do you treat those who can do nothing for you? How do you speak when no one is clapping? God is watching the heart, not just the hustle.
Joseph’s dream did not lead him directly to the throne; it first led him through a process of preparation. The pit, Potiphar’s house, and the prison didn’t look anything like prophecy. And maybe that’s where you are too, staring at a season so dark and disconnected from what God promised, wondering how it could ever align. But what if this very season is shaping you for the promise ahead? God often shows you where you’re going to anchor you through where you’re growing.
So, how do we respond to seasons of revelation?
- Handle revelation with humility. Not every word is for public consumption.
- Let conflict shape you, not break you. There is divine meaning in the opposition.
- Steward the process with faith. Don’t uproot what God planted in faith because it’s taking too long to grow.
So stay anchored. Stay planted. Stay discerning. Because what God has whispered in secret, He will fulfill at the appointed time