[Music] Have you ever looked back at your childhood and wondered why you faced certain challenges that most kids around you seemed to skip right over? Maybe you've grown up and become a responsible adult, but you've still got these lingering questions: Why did I struggle so much when I was so young? Why did I feel so different?
Was all of that hardship just random? Today, I want to help you see that many of those early experiences were not coincidences; they might have been signs—signs that God was shaping you for a unique purpose even before you knew how to spell the word "purpose. " The Bible says in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart.
" That means God had a plan for your life before you even opened your eyes for the first time. The challenges, gifts, and sensitivities you carried as a child weren't accidents; they were clues. God was already training you, preparing you, and steering you toward a greater calling.
As we go through these signs, I’d encourage you to participate. If something we talk about resonates with your own childhood experiences, take a moment to head down to the comments and write a short Bible verse or a brief affirmation—something like "God chose me" or "The Lord is my guide. " Your words might just help someone else recognize their own story in a new light.
**Sign One: You faced more obstacles in early life than other people. ** Let’s start with this: Were you that kid who always seemed to have it harder than everyone else? Maybe you grew up in a family situation that was far from peaceful.
Maybe money was always tight, arguments were constant, and you had responsibilities that no 8 or 9-year-old should ever have to carry. While other kids were focused on what brand of sneakers to wear, you might have been focused on how to make a limited amount of groceries last until the end of the week. While some children breezed through school without a care in the world, you might have struggled with learning difficulties, language barriers, or constantly changing schools.
It’s almost like life handed you a heavier load from day one. If that’s you, understand this: The Lord knew you could handle more than you thought you could. Romans 5:3-4 says that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character.
God doesn't waste pain; if you faced obstacles early on, He was building resilience in you. He knew that as you grew older, you would need that inner toughness to keep going when everyone else gave up. It’s like early training at a spiritual boot camp.
By overcoming difficulties so young, you learned how to solve problems, adapt quickly, and lean on strength bigger than your own. You didn’t know it at the time, but you were developing into someone God can trust with important work later in life. Take a moment now; if you can relate to this sign, jump down into the comments and write a short verse or affirmation—maybe something like "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
By doing this, you acknowledge that your early struggles were forging qualities that God will use in mighty ways. **Sign Two: You had prophetic or meaningful dreams in early childhood. ** Think back for a second: Did you ever have dreams as a kid that felt oddly real, maybe even like they carried a message?
Not just random nightmares, but dreams that stuck with you, made you think deeply, or even predicted things that happened later. Maybe, as a child, you woke up puzzled, wondering why you felt like God was talking to you when nobody else mentioned such things. You might have told a parent or sibling about your dream and received a shrug or a laugh, so you learned to keep it to yourself.
Perhaps as you grew older, you decided these dreams were too strange or scary, so you shut them down. You tried to turn that part of your heart off to survive mentally because you didn’t know what to do with it. Don’t dismiss those early dream experiences so quickly.
In the Bible, God often communicates through dreams. Think of Joseph in Genesis, who had dreams as a young man that made no sense at first but later proved crucial to saving lives. If you had these out-of-the-ordinary dreams, it could be that God gifted you with a spiritual sensitivity early on.
Maybe you pushed it down because it was overwhelming, but God might still want to use that ability in your adult life. Maybe He wants you to pay attention to subtle spiritual signals, to sense warning signs before others do, or to understand truths hidden beneath the surface. If your childhood dreams are clicking into place now, drop another affirmation or verse in the comments—something like "Speak, Lord; your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9).
By doing this, you’re acknowledging that you’re open to God’s guidance, even if it comes in unexpected forms. **Sign Three: Animals and children with problems were attracted to you. ** Did you ever notice that hurting creatures seemed drawn to you?
Maybe you were that child who could calm a nervous stray dog that everyone else feared. Perhaps troubled kids at school gravitated toward you, even if you were quiet, or younger children who were anxious or insecure seemed to relax when you were around. It’s not that you had all the answers; you were just a kid yourself.
But somehow, they sensed something comforting and stable in you. This isn’t just a coincidence. Often, God’s chosen people carry a sort of spiritual warmth that those in need can feel, even if no one can explain it.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that we should let our light shine. If people and animals in distress felt. .
. Safer with you, that might have been your light shining early on. It's a sign that God planted in you a heart of compassion and the ability to bring peace into chaotic situations.
This is the kind of quality the world desperately needs: someone who can stabilize a stormy environment with just their presence. If this resonates with you, take a moment to comment something like, "Lord, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. " By doing so, you're embracing that nurturing, calming gift God placed inside you.
[Music] Sign four: You were highly sensitive to truth and hurt by dishonesty. How did you react as a child when you saw someone lying? Not necessarily lying to you, but maybe lying to someone else—your parent lying to a neighbor about a small thing, your friend's dad breaking a promise he made, or your classmate telling stories that weren't true.
Did it bother you more than it bothered other kids? Did it feel like a punch in the gut to witness any kind of dishonesty, even if everyone else shrugged it off as no big deal? If that's the case, you might have been carrying God's standard of truth deep in your soul from a young age.
The Bible says in Psalm 51:6, "Surely you desire truth in the inner parts. " God cares about honesty, integrity, and sincerity. If you were extra sensitive to lies and it hurt you to see people fake their way through life, that could be a sign that God wired you to uphold truth.
You were never meant to settle for a world where truth is optional. This sign suggests God wants to use you to uphold integrity, to be the kind of person who can't just look away from corruption and falsehood. If you identify with this sign, maybe write, "Lead Me In Your Truth, Psalm 25:5," in the comments.
By doing this, you're reaffirming your commitment to living and promoting truth as God intended. Sign five: People trusted you. You got things done, and everything you touched got better.
Here's a crucial sign, and probably the most important one: Were you known, even as a kid, as someone who could get it done? Maybe your family members relied on you to fix small problems at home. Maybe friends turned to you when they needed someone dependable—not just for advice, but for real help.
Even teachers might have given you responsibilities beyond your years because they knew you wouldn't drop the ball. You might have thought this was just your personality, but think again. When God chooses someone for a special task, He often trains them in responsibility and reliability early.
Luke 16:10 reminds us that if we are faithful in the small things, we will be faithful in much bigger things. Those childhood chores, conflicts you resolved, and problems you tackled were all training exercises. God was building your capacity to bring order where there's chaos, to lead where others hesitate, and to improve whatever you touch.
He needs people who won't quit at the first obstacle, who don't run away when it's hard, and who know how to bring solutions instead of complaints. If you see your life in this sign, leave a comment like, "Here I Am, Lord, send me," Isaiah 6:8. You're telling God you understand why He gave you that get-it-done spirit and that you're ready to use it for His greater purpose.
Now let's take a step back and look at these signs collectively. You faced more obstacles than most kids; this built your resilience, preparing you for challenges down the road. You had prophetic or meaningful dreams; God gave you a unique channel for insight, even if you didn't understand it at the time.
Animals and troubled children felt safe around you; your presence brought comfort, showing you have a calming, nurturing spirit. You were sensitive to lies and deception; you carried a yearning for truth and integrity—something deeply aligned with God's heart. You were the one everyone counted on.
God molded you into a problem solver, a doer—someone He can trust with bigger tasks later. These are not random traits; they are interconnected hints that God planted inside you. He was shaping your character, your perspective, and your heart from your earliest years so that one day He could call on you to fulfill a special purpose.
You were never ordinary. God was writing a story with your life, and He started outlining the main themes when you were just a kid. Maybe you're asking, "Why did God shape me this way?
Couldn't He have just given me a normal childhood? " Well, think about how soldiers, athletes, or leaders are trained. They don't just wake up one day ready for the big leagues.
They go through countless hours of practice, challenges, setbacks, and learning experiences. God does something similar; He often starts preparing His chosen ones early. Your tough childhood, strange dreams, and heightened sense of right and wrong weren't meant to break you—they were there to shape you into a person who could stand strong in a world that desperately needs strong, loving, and truth-honoring individuals.
You might be thinking, "All right, I see it now; these were signs God was shaping me. But what do I do with this information? " Good question.
The first step is simple: acknowledge and thank God. Sometimes we need to look back and realize we were never alone, never abandoned, never just drifting. God was involved, carefully guiding and developing you.
You can pray something like, "Lord, I see it now. I see Your hand in my childhood. Thank You for shaping me, even when I didn't understand what You were doing.
" Next, ask God to show you how to use these qualities for His glory today. If He made you resilient, consider where you can bring strength and hope in your community. If He gave you insight through dreams, ask Him.
. . How he wants you to use that gift, maybe through prayer, encouragement, or counseling.
If people feel comforted by your presence, find ways to serve those in need, whether it's volunteering with children's ministries, helping the homeless, or simply being that listening ear at work or in your family. If you can't stand lies, stand up for honesty and justice in a respectful yet firm way. If you're the person who gets things done, step into leadership roles that help others grow, heal, or find solutions.
God doesn't just shape you so you can sit on these gifts; he shapes you because there's a world out there needing the person you've become. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. That means your life isn't a random journey; it's a mission.
Those early signs were basically God's way of saying, "I have plans for you, and I'm starting now. " Let's be real: some of you are hearing this, but you still feel anger or sadness over what you endured as a child. It's perfectly normal.
Being chosen and shaped doesn't mean you enjoyed every moment of the process. Maybe you faced abuse, neglect, or constant disappointment. Acknowledging God's plan doesn't mean you pretend it was all fun and games; it means recognizing that God can redeem the pain and turn it into something meaningful.
If you still carry scars, consider seeking healing. Pray for God's help; talk to a trusted pastor, counselor, or mature friend who can help you unpack the baggage. Healing doesn't erase what happened, but it allows you to move forward without those wounds defining you.
One day, you may even find that your past pain enables you to help others going through similar hardships. What the enemy meant for your harm, God can use for good (Genesis 50:20). If these five signs have rung true for you today, I invite you to step confidently into the future God has for you.
Don't dismiss the past as wasted time. Don't see your differences or sensitivities as flaws; see them as signals that God's hand has been on you all along. He chose you and set you apart, and now he's asking you to trust him, to embrace your gifts, and to use them for good.
Amen.
