Have you ever noticed God cares more about our spiritual growth than He does our comfort? That’s right. God is more interested in developing us into mature Christians who can make a positive difference in our world than walking through life as infant Believers. This process doesn’t happen by chance or come to pass overnight. God carefully orchestrates events and trials that will stretch us beyond our comfort level so that we grow spiritually.
I once heard a minister say, “If I were doing what I am doing right now, back when I first started preaching, the pressure and weight of responsibility and the critics’ criticisms would have crushed me.” He went on to share how grateful he was that God took His time in developing him and preparing him to handle the challenges he now faces. Today, he is thriving and touching the world!
King David experienced years of preparation as well. As a young adolescent, God had him shepherding his father’s sheep when no one was looking at him. In an isolated, lonely countryside in Israel, God taught young David to be a good steward over someone else’s flock. When a bear and a lion came attacking, God gave David the ability to kill them, protecting the precious livestock from vicious predators.
What was God up to? Those early years prepared David to face and defeat Goliath, the mighty Philistine warrior. Upon killing him, David was promoted and served in Saul’s army. Sometime later, Saul became jealous of David, which eventually caused David to flee for his life into the wilderness. Approximately 600 disgruntled men followed David, and he became their leader. He did this for years while evading King Saul and the entire army of Israel, who were out to kill him. Imagine the pressure and stress David was under. Yet, it didn’t destroy him; it made him!
In fact, many of the Psalms we read about in the Bible were written by David during this time of testing in the wilderness.
Psalm 7:1-2 states, “I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me! If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion, tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
When God finished teaching David what He wanted him to learn during this season on the run, the Lord promoted him again. King Saul and his three oldest sons had just been killed in battle against the Philistine army. The tribe of Judah decided to make David their king, while the other tribes of Israel made Ish-Bosheth their king. David faithfully led and served Judah for seven and a half years. Eventually, David was made king over all of Israel after Ish-Bosheth was murdered, just as God told David way back when he was just a shepherd boy. David ruled over all of Israel for 33 years and became one of the greatest kings in human history.
God took David through several seasons of testing and training, ultimately equipping him to be king over His people. With each step, God grew David’s leadership ability, and with each step, the stakes were higher and the pressure greater. In His infinite wisdom, God knew exactly what David needed and what he could handle. These stretching times caused David to lean into God with all his might and develop spiritual muscles he didn’t realize he had. That’s how God works!
I’ve had seasons of testing, too. When I started working for Destiny Rescue in the United States, I always believed God would use me to speak in front of large audiences to help them learn about child sexual slavery, God’s heart for justice, and the work of Destiny Rescue. But I didn’t start there. I spoke to tiny audiences in their homes when I first began. My first presentation was to two people! Over time, God allowed me to talk in small to medium-sized churches and other events. Then, one day, He opened the door for me to speak in arenas on tour with Winter Jam, the largest Christian concert tour in the world. And just recently, I spoke at a conference with well-known Christian artists and speakers. The stakes were high! I could feel the pressure and influence this opportunity carried. Had I gotten this chance years earlier, the weight of it would have crushed me. But at this moment in time, it didn’t. I stepped through the pressure and came out on the other side, literally a different person. I knew I could handle more after having gone through this experience because God helped me grow spiritually.
God knows what He is doing. He molds and shapes us for where He is taking us. It is not always easy to see what the Lord is up to in the moment or during the preparation years, but that is where faith comes into play. God wants us to learn to trust that He knows the right time to open greater doors to our destiny. So, please don’t get discouraged because the opportunities aren’t opening fast enough; God’s timing is perfect! He is preparing you for something greater. Learn patience and be teachable. God is depositing wisdom in you and the necessary skills to help you flourish in the days ahead.
James 1:2-4 NIV
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
