Have you ever walked around feeling “off,” but couldn’t quite put your finger on what was wrong?
Sometimes our bodies speak through silent symptoms. We may not have a fever or a cough, but something just isn’t right. In the same way, our souls send signals when we’re not living in alignment with the assignment God has for us.
The challenge? These spiritual and emotional symptoms can be easy to ignore, until the discomfort grows too loud to silence.
So today, I want to share with you five clear symptoms of a woman who doesn’t know her God-given assignment. If any of these resonate with you, don’t panic. This isn’t about shame or regret, it’s an invitation to awareness and alignment.
Let’s walk through them together.
Symptom #1: Feeling Unfulfilled in Your Current Career
You know this one. Sunday evening rolls around, and your stomach tightens just thinking about Monday morning. You wake up, go through the motions, and spend more time daydreaming than doing. You’re counting down the days to Friday – not because you’re tired, but because your work feels lifeless.
My friend, that might be a sign you’re out of alignment with your assignment.
Your career can be one of the most powerful platforms for glorifying God and serving others. But when you’re operating outside of what He’s called you to do, that work becomes a drain, not a delight.
I remember the season when I was serving as a judge. From the outside, it looked like success. But deep down, I knew my time on the bench was ending. It took courage and prayer to make the shift, but walking away opened the door to my current assignment – encouraging and equipping women like you.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
If your current work doesn’t allow you to live that truth, ask God what step He wants you to take next. It may not be a complete career change. It could simply be a redirection. Either way, your peace is worth the prayer.
Symptom #2: Not Using Your Unique Talents and Abilities
God didn’t give you your gifts just to sit on them. Romans 12:6 says, “In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” If you’re not using your gifts, you’re likely not walking fully in your assignment.
I recently spoke with a friend about her daughter, a gifted dancer who chose to major in computer science because it seemed more “practical.” But her heart wasn’t in it. Her joy was in dance, the thing God wired her to do.
Sometimes, practicality pulls us away from our calling.
If you’ve been playing it safe or suppressing what you’re good at because it doesn’t make sense on paper, it’s time to reevaluate. Make a list of everything you can do. Highlight what brings you joy and what others say you do well. Then, ask God to show you how He wants you to use those gifts in this season.
You were never meant to bury what God built into you.
Symptom #3: Being in Toxic or Unfulfilling Relationships
Toxic relationships will derail your destiny faster than almost anything else. And I’m not just talking about romantic ones. This could be a co-worker, a family member, a friend, or even someone in ministry.
If someone in your life constantly devalues you, drains you, or causes you to shrink back from your God-given identity, it’s time to pause and pray.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
I once had a friend who suffered through multiple abusive marriages after growing up witnessing the same patterns. For years, her focus was simply survival. Her assignment? Completely off the radar.
Now, your situation may not be that extreme. But if a relationship is pulling you away from the things of God, it’s a red flag. You cannot walk boldly in your assignment while staying entangled in relationships that crush your spirit.
Seek wise counsel. Pray for clarity. And trust that God will give you the courage to create the boundaries you need.
Symptom #4: Feeling Spiritually Disconnected
Have you ever felt like your prayers were bouncing off the ceiling? Or like your Bible is just ink on a page instead of a living Word?
I’ve been there. Twenty years ago, I went through a painful divorce. I was angry at my ex, angry at myself, and yes, angry at God. But instead of running to Him, I distanced myself. That disconnection made it impossible for me to discern my assignment in that season.
Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
If your spiritual connection feels broken, don’t ignore it. Run to your Source. Make time for prayer. Reignite your time in the Word. Surround yourself with godly community. Because when your spirit is nourished, your assignment becomes clearer.
Psalm 63:1 says, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” That’s the posture that keeps us aligned and empowered.
Symptom #5: Suppressing a Dream
God is the ultimate Dream Giver.
You may have read The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson, a parable about a man named Ordinary who dares to leave his familiar life and pursue a Big Dream. It’s not just a nice story. It’s a reminder that the dreams God plants in us are part of the path to our assignment.
If you’ve buried a dream because it felt too big, too slow, or too unrealistic, I want you to ask yourself a hard question: Did God give me that dream?
If He did, then let me remind you, He will bring it to pass in His perfect timing. Don’t end a God-dream just because it hasn’t come to life yet. Keep seeking. Keep trusting. Keep moving. That dream could be the very door to the assignment He has for you.
Habakkuk 2:3 says, “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
Final Thoughts: Let the Symptoms Lead You Back to God
These five symptoms aren’t a diagnosis of failure. They’re an invitation. An invitation to realignment. To reflection. To recommitment.
Let’s recap:
- Feeling unfulfilled in your current career.
- Not using your unique talents and abilities.
- Being in toxic or unfulfilling relationships.
- Feeling spiritually disconnected.
- Suppressing a dream.
If even one of these stirred something in your heart, don’t brush it off. Talk to God about it. Journal through it. Seek wise counsel. And remember – God never reveals something just to leave you hanging. He reveals it because He’s ready to heal it and help you move forward.
You were created on purpose, for a purpose. And in every season, God has a specific assignment for you. Walk in it with confidence, courage, and clarity.
Because when you step into your assignment, the world gets to see God’s glory shining through you.
