The Upper Room: From Wilderness to Strategy, Naming My Battles, Stewarding My Plunder

Catherine Guillaume-Sackey
Jun 20
13 min read

Updated: Jun 22

Catherine (🇭🇹Guillaume🇭🇹) Sackey, MPAP

She/Her

A Forward

I am writing this from the Upper Room—both literally and spiritually.

When I arrived in California for the ROI Summit, I did so with full intention. I didn’t come just to attend; I came to align. I came to expand the vision God planted in me. I paid for the expensive ticket without second-guessing because I knew this summit was part of my training. I added an extra day to my trip because I understand now—rest is a commandment, not a suggestion. If God, who created the heavens and the earth, rested on the seventh day, then surely I could pause to honor Him by enjoying what He was creating in me.

I upgraded my flight to economy plus. Not to impress, not to flex, but because I knew I deserved more room to breathe. I didn’t choose first class—because I didn’t need external validation to feel like I belonged. I chose what I needed for this season: dignity without distraction. And I told myself, by faith, I will make that money back. ROI wasn’t a loss. It was an investment—into obedience, into alignment, into purpose.

When I arrived, the room I originally booked felt too small, so I asked for more. I asked with kindness, and the desk clerk responded with favor. I was given a choice: a discounted room with a better view ready now, or a much larger 958-square-foot suite with a partial ocean view if I was willing to wait.

I waited. Because I’ve waited before. I’ve waited through valleys. Through silence. Through invisible progress. This wasn’t just a delay—it was another invitation to trust. At first, I declined daily housekeeping, but in my head, I said, “You deserve to be cared for.” I changed my mind. Still, they never came. Instead, I asked for fresh towels, and when I returned, someone had quietly left them just inside the door, not stepping fully into the room.

I prayed here. I asked God to guide me through the Summit, especially as I prepared to host three braindates. I didn’t want to show up in old armor—performative, striving, reaching. I asked to be grounded. Every single day, God sent someone into my path who confirmed the calling without me having to perform for it. Divine connections, spirit-led appointments.

Not all encounters were aligned. Some tested old wounds—places where I once sought validation from the world. But this time, I recognized the difference. I remembered I was free.

On Juneteenth, while there was a big Cowboy party going on, I decided not to go. I ate sushi and listened to a Facebook Live sermon that spoke directly to my past experience. I later caught another live from a pastor in Nigeria who had prayed over me long ago when I asked only for protection at my church in Levittown, PA. This time, I met him and his wife on the live, and his short sermon and his prayer were for my now and for my future. It was like watching prophecy in real time. I felt the need to stay connected to God the entire day with no distractions from my past habits. And it paid off big time.

I woke up the next morning with a gentle nudge on June 20th, 2025—the kind you can’t manufacture. At first, the nudge came as a gentle touch on my arm. Still, I felt me swat the nudge away, it was time to wake up, it's our time to meet, then instead of a nudge I felt a tickle under my feet, the same way I bother my husband because he's super ticklish, and I always get a chuckle out of it. I woke up with a chuckle, cleared notifications off my phone, began reading my bible, my 365 plan, that I'm off track with, because I am taking my time and reading and sharing as I feel led by the holy spirit. June 20th, I opened my Bible to 2 Chronicles 20—Jehoshaphat’s prayer, divine strategy, and plunder. I realized that in obedience, faith, and trust, I’d been placed on the top floor of the Hyatt Spa & Resort. Not by force. Not by manipulation. But by flow. By favor.

This room, with its partial ocean view and full clarity, was my confirmation: I’m living in my Upper Room moment.

Like the widow of Zarephath, I’ve been through seasons of "just enough," where all I had was obedience, and faith had to be measured daily. But now I see legacy. I see the life of the promise in full form, like when her son was restored and handed back to her. I see my own reflection carrying light, and others have seen Him in me, too.

The housekeeping didn’t come because Heaven did.

This room became holy ground. There were places I couldn’t walk into while I was here in the Upper Room, because now I know God was staying here. He met me in solitude. Not to isolate me, but to remind me: this is what glory feels like. This is what overflow looks like. This is what restoration requires.

I attended a breakout session titled Becoming a Million Dollar Author. But the truth is—I’m already writing the chapters. With every prayer, every wait, every surrender, every room I walk into with reverence—I’m writing legacy.

This is my Forward. The same confession I made in a room full of women loudly, that I struggle with writing because of past experiences of feeling unworthy and dismissed in the education space in grade school, and the higher education space. Before the breakout session started, the session leader, an author and writing coach, approached me and asked why I wanted to write a book. I told her because my Pastor, my spiritual father, Ansy Dessources, told me I'll publish a book about Women one day. My pastor wasn't aware of my complicated relationships with women or the volunteering I do on behalf of women. So I had faith in the message he delivered on behalf of God, because Dr. Ansy showed up for me and my family out of obedience when the Sackey Family was not members or regular visitors.

This is my Upper Room.

From Wilderness to Strategy, Naming My Battles, Stewarding My Plunder

The wilderness was not a delay—it was design. A place of correction, reflection, and training. And in that place, I had to practice and eventually own three things: obedience, faith, and trust. Not hypothetically, but actively, when nothing around me made sense. These three principles mirrored the posture I observed in the widow of Zarephath, who responded to a prophetic word with limited resources and chose surrender over certainty (Sackey, “The Widow’s Journey”)¹. Her story taught me that obedience often begins with scarcity but ends in sustainability.

Like Israel, I had to learn to survive on manna—daily provision for vision. Manna wasn’t just about meeting my physical needs; it was about receiving just enough spiritual clarity to keep going (Sackey, “Manna: The Sustainability”)². I wasn’t given a surplus of insight—I was given exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Reading Scripture became less of a routine and more of a roadmap, a spiritual GPS recalibrating me every morning. That consistency realigned me and helped me distinguish between movement and momentum.

That spiritual map wasn’t linear—it wove through mountains, valleys, and wilderness streams. As I explored in The Mountains Know, it took Hermon to clarify the call, Tabor to reveal the weight of the assignment, and Zion to affirm the fulfillment of it (Sackey, “The Mountains Know”)³. I lived that biblical arc—not in study, but in practice.

I had my own version of forty days and forty nights—long, stretching seasons of formation where I didn’t see results but was being reshaped internally. I had my Elijah moments—under the tree, in the cave, crying out for clarity when clarity felt out of reach (Sackey, “Elijah’s Flight”)⁴. I had my widow moments too, where I lived in the “now,” measuring faith daily just to get through (Sackey, “The Widow’s Journey”)¹.

Still, I was not alone.

When prayers were dry and I could not follow God's directions directly, God showed up in people indirectly. My husband, my community (coworkers included), my pastor, my family, my therapist, my friends—these weren’t just kind figures. They were God’s intercession made visible. Just as Elijah carried the widow’s dead son to the upper room, people carried me when I didn’t have the words to explain what I was holding. They reminded me that God still speaks—even through others.

I Saw Myself in That Prayer

I’ve had to pray like Jehoshaphat more times than I can count. Not just once, not just in church, but in different seasons—each marked by different postures and different views I had of God. There were days when I stood in confidence, praying with expectation. Other days, I sat in silence, letting tears do the talking. Sometimes I paced the room with holy urgency; other times I curled up in bed whispering, “Help.”

But each time, like Jehoshaphat, I reminded myself of who God is:

“O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven... Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence... and you will hear us and rescue us.” —2 Chronicles 20:6–9 (NLT)

As I read the part where all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children (v. 13), I felt their desperation—because I’ve been there. I’ve stood before God with nothing but need, with no other choice but to lean on Him. And as I grew in obedience, faith, and trust, my desperation changed. It became asking. Then it became conversation.

I remember the last prayer of desperation before I found full clarity. It was when I read Psalm 119, and I saw David—not just as a king, but as someone I could relate to. He was the least likely to succeed. He did his job with no one watching. He fought battles with no one around. Then one day, he sensed that a promotion was coming. But instead of stepping into it, he was led into a waiting season. He tried to stay the same person, knowing what was in store, but he still struggled. He stumbled. And even when he got there—he wasn’t perfect.

I cried for David that day because I saw my present situation in his. I remember saying to God, “I never want to fumble the bag when you bring me through this journey.” That was the moment my faith was activated.

It happened one morning, quietly, before work. I was on my knees, leaning on the loveseat at the foot of the bed, whispering a prayer while my husband slept, completely unaware of the moment I was having with God. I begged for help. I confessed. I asked for forgiveness. I asked Him to save me from the valley—the one called despair. Then the tears came—not just tears—gushing, silent weeping, as I poured it all out.

And He came to my rescue.

After that crisis, I was finally able to ask for other things, learn other things, and heal other things. Eventually, I brought my family along. I got to share with them not just my growth but my Savior, their Savior. I had crossed into a new kind of valley—not one of loss but one of legacy.

In that wilderness, Policy Over Politics Consulting was formed. Now, God has put it on my heart to expand that vision into POP LABS—a two-track consulting business that allows clients to work through strategy and alignment. If they choose, they can pursue both tracks through my biblically grounded leadership training services.

What Were My Battles?

These were not symbolic. They were daily, lived tensions:

Self-doubt
Lack of confidence
Delays in business development
Unnecessary aggravation
Political noise and pressure
Lack of clients or misaligned ones
Limited opportunities
Financial stress
Low trust in God
Disconnected prayer life
Emotional heaviness and sadness
Regret from missed timing or opportunities

Just like the Moabites and Ammonites who turned against one another (2 Chron. 20:23), these enemies fell without me lifting a sword. They collapsed under the weight of praise and trust.

What Is My Plunder?

It took time to name what I had gained. But like Judah, my plunder was not silver or gold—it was transformation:

Clients aligned with my values
Opportunities that honor my growth
Peace in my decisions
A prayer life rooted in intimacy, not performance
Strategy born from stillness, not striving
Confidence to lead in rooms I once feared
A business realigned with Kingdom purpose
Restored trust in God’s presence and timing
Community that reflects intercession
People I’m now called to walk with

This is what I now understand: plunder is people. It is the fruit of obedience, faith, and trust. As I wrote in Peace Before the Promise, we are called not only to gather resources, but to steward restoration (Sackey, “Peace Before the Promise”)⁵.

As I wrote in Peace Before the Promise, we are called not only to gather resources but to steward restoration.⁶ In Reassigned by Refinement, I talked about how God upgrades our internal material, swapping bronze for gold and iron for silver (Isaiah 60:17).⁷ That’s what happened to me. I’m no longer functioning from survival; I’m functioning from covenant.

Just like the Israelites renamed the valley “the Valley of Blessing” (2 Chronicles 20:26), I, too, have renamed my wilderness. It is no longer a waiting space. It is a space of preparation. And now, I’m ready to help others cross.

Here in California, I’ve received messages from people thanking me for what felt like small acts of kindness—it was life-changing for them, checking in, offering support, praying without agenda. And I know now it wasn’t just kindness. It was alignment. Whether you are helping a mother with a stroller, asking a co-worker if they were okay, or sharing food with someone experiencing addiction or mental illness, God was present in the exchange.

Everyone carries something sacred. The Holy Spirit doesn’t wait for belief to begin moving. The blood of Jesus was shed for all of us, not just those who recognize it. So when we act with compassion, when we pause long enough to really see someone, we participate in that love—whether we name it that way or not.

If you are still in your wilderness, hear me: you will not stay there forever. There are people assigned to meet you in that space and walk you across your Jordan. And on the other side, the battles that kept you there will fall. Not because you fought harder—but because you finally surrendered.

Now that I am equipped with knowledge on how the battles are won, I’m free to collect my plunder. And for me, that means gathering people. The significance of the lookout point in 2 Chronicles 20 became more than biblical—it became personal.

My Plunder Is My People

Each past article has been a step in this journey:

A Light Unto Our Path reminded me how God’s presence, love, and Spirit become our fearless leadership blueprint (Sackey, “A Light Unto Our Path”)⁷.

Letting Go After Loyalty helped me build boundaries with grace and reframe what healthy identity looks like in relationships (Sackey, “Letting Go After Loyalty”)⁸.

Robed in Purpose affirmed that being marked by God means guarding my discernment with intention and dignity (Sackey, “Robed in Purpose”)⁹.

CEO Kingdom Living re-taught me that I don’t have to strive when obedience is in place (Sackey, “CEO Kingdom Living”)¹⁰.

Who’s Marking You? revealed the difference between flesh-led and Spirit-led impact (Sackey, “Who’s Marking You?”)¹¹.

When Glamour Becomes a Trap reminded me how easy it is to fall into misalignment when influence overtakes identity (Sackey, “When Glamour Becomes a Trap”)¹².

When We Become Rome showed me that systems built without the Spirit eventually implode (Sackey, “When We Become Rome”)¹³.

Now I lead my family, my friends, my clients, and my community with these lessons. My plunder is not things—it’s transformation. It’s understanding that my business isn’t just my calling, it’s my testimony. From one valley to another—this time with abundance, peace, and rest.

Reference Guide

All Scripture citations are from The Holy Bible: Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2011), unless otherwise noted. The Amplified Bible (AMP) is used for comparative reference.

Primary Text:

2 Chronicles 20 — Jehoshaphat’s prayer, divine strategy, and plunder

Key Moments in Judah’s Journey:

2 Chron. 20:3–4 — Jehoshaphat seeks God and calls for a fast

2 Chron. 20:5–12 — Communal prayer rooted in remembrance and surrender

2 Chron. 20:13 — Families standing together before the Lord

2 Chron. 20:14–17 — Prophetic word: “The battle is not yours, but God’s”

2 Chron. 20:18–21 — Response of worship and appointed praise

2 Chron. 20:22–23 — Enemies turn on each other

2 Chron. 20:25 — The gathering of plunder

2 Chron. 20:26 — The Valley of Berakah (Blessing) named

Supporting Patterns and Reflections:

Psalm 119 — David’s intimate surrender, struggle, and waiting

Isaiah 60:17 — Divine exchange: refinement of what is within

1 Samuel 16–24 — David’s hidden victories and delays before kingship

Matthew 6:33 — Seek first the Kingdom, and all things shall be added

Chicago Style Citations

Catherine Sackey, “The Widow’s Journey: Why Obedience Alone Is Not Enough Without Faith and Trust,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/the-widow-s-journey-why-obedience-alone-is-not-enough-without-faith-and-trust.
Catherine Sackey, “Manna: The Sustainability of What God Provides,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/manna-the-sustainability-of-what-god-provides.
Catherine Sackey, “The Mountains Know: A Biblical Blueprint for Purpose from Hermon, Tabor, and Zion,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/the-mountains-know-a-biblical-blueprint-for-purpose-from-hermon-tabor-and-zion.
Catherine Sackey, “Elijah’s Flight: A Leadership Case Study in Resisting Spiritual Enslavement,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/elijah-s-flight-a-leadership-case-study-in-resisting-spiritual-enslavement.
Catherine Sackey, “Peace Before the Promise: Where the Real Treasure Is Stored,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/peace-before-the-promise-where-the-real-treasure-is-stored.
Catherine Sackey, “Reassigned by Refinement: Isaiah 60:17 and the Call to Kingdom Entrepreneurship,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/reassigned-by-refinement-isaiah-60-17-and-the-call-to-kingdom-entrepreneurship.
Catherine Sackey, “A Light Unto Our Path: Fearless Leadership in the Power of His Presence, Love, and Spirit,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/a-light-unto-our-path-fearless-leadership-in-the-power-of-his-presence-love-and-spirit.
Catherine Sackey, “Letting Go After Loyalty: Healing, Boundaries, and Becoming the Temple,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/letting-go-after-loyalty-healing-boundaries-and-becoming-the-temple.
Catherine Sackey, “Robed in Purpose, Guarded by Discernment: A Psalm 45 Reflection for Women,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/robed-in-purpose-guarded-by-discernment-a-psalm-45-reflection-for-women.
Catherine Sackey, “CEO Kingdom Living: When Obedience Leads, You Don’t Have to Strive,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/ceo-kingdom-living-when-obedience-leads-you-don-t-have-to-strive.
Catherine Sackey, “Who’s Marking You? Flesh, Spirit, and the Last Days,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/who-s-marking-you-flesh-spirit-and-the-last-days.
Catherine Sackey, “When Glamour Becomes a Trap: Kingdom Discernment, Ahab’s Fall, and the Cost of Misalignment,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/when-glamour-becomes-a-trap-kingdom-discernment-ahab-s-fall-and-the-cost-of-misalignment.
Catherine Sackey, “When We Become Rome: What the Spirit Reveals About Our Condition,” Policy Over Politics (blog), accessed June 20, 2025, https://www.catherinesackey.com/post/when-we-become-rome-what-the-spirit-reveals-about-our-condition.

Policy Over Politics Leadership Note

This teaching is part of the Policy Over Politics Christian Leadership Series. Every reflection is crafted to help align a leader’s heart and decisions with the policy of God’s Word over the politics of the soul. Where policy represents God’s unchanging truth, politics reflects the emotional negotiations of fear, ego, and self-preservation. Alignment requires that obedience, faith, and trust converge, so that God’s Kingdom order governs both personal life and professional leadership.

Definition of Leadership

Leadership is the stewardship of alignment—the ability to govern oneself, others, and assignments according to God’s divine order. It is not built on performance, power, or popularity, but on the leader’s capacity to obey, believe, and trust God fully while carrying others through their gaps until alignment is complete.