Go at God’s pace
A few years ago, the Hobbs family went to an amusement park, and my youngest son Kaleb asked to climb a 45-foot wall of stone—a thrilling adventure set up to simulate a real mountain-climbing experience.
Once he was strapped into the safety harness, his adventure began, but it was short-lived. The higher our little guy got, the more intense his fear became. After a few minutes, he was more eager to get off the wall than he was to get on it. He underestimated how intimidating it would be to climb that high.
Hats off to Kaleb for at least trying, though. I wouldn’t even attempt to climb the rock wall, let alone scale an actual mountain. Mountain climbers face some real challenges, like altitude sickness for example. The higher a climber goes, the thinner the air gets. And it takes time for a climber’s body to adjust to the drastic changes. At levels higher than 1,500 feet, some experience muscle fatigue, difficulty breathing, headaches, vomiting, and swelling. Trying to climb too high, too fast can be dangerous and cause lots of negative side effects.
As it is with mountain climbing, so it is in life: reaching higher elevations must be done at a manageable pace. While shooting for the stars and aiming high is good, it is also necessary to manage expectations, and be patient with the process.
Even blessings can be overwhelming if we receive them too quickly. We need to be at a certain level of maturity to handle what we’re asking God for.
Consider Peter. He was a zealous disciple, and he thought he was ready to fight for Jesus, and be a sold-out believer. Peter is the one who famously cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas, who participated in the arrest of Jesus. But once Jesus was arrested, and the opposition kicked up a level, Peter realized that his own life was in danger because he was connected to the Messiah. That’s when Peter conveniently denied knowing Jesus on three separate occasions, just as Jesus prophesied (Luke 22:54-62).
As you see, when the stakes got higher, Peter’s “altitude sickness” kicked in, and the side effects were fear and compromise. Like Kaleb did at the amusement park, Peter underestimated the level of intimidation he would face in those circumstances.
“This valley has a purpose: to develop the character, habits, and discipline you need to sustain you on the mountain where God is taking you. Right now, you’re in your preparation phase. Next is your elevation phase. And you’ll be so ready for it!”
A similar thing happened to Peter in Matthew 14:22-33, when he wanted to walk on water like Jesus. Peter took a few steps, but his zeal and excitement were soon replaced with terror, and he began sinking lower physically—a direct reflection of how quickly his faith sank in the midst of the storm.
But Peter was not a lost cause. He developed and grew in his faith over time and rose to become the leader of the twelve disciples. In the book of Acts, he won many souls to Christ—both Jews and Gentiles—and even raised a woman named Dorcas from the dead as I talked about in today’s podcast.
Obviously, Peter didn’t get to that level overnight. He had to go through some things and be spiritually developed. And the same thing is true of you and me.
Friend, God has more in store. He is going to take you higher, but you must be prepared for the level He’s trying to take you to. We all must be prepared. Otherwise, we won’t be able to rise to the occasion. Cowardliness will take over, and we’ll be too afraid, intimidated, undisciplined, and immature to go through challenging tests. Just like Peter, our faith will sink in the face of opposition, and we will shrink away from the destiny God has called us to.
That’s why it is important to be patient. Wait on the Lord. Let Him lead you and mold you. Let Him refine you. Let Him strengthen you. His pace may be slower than you want it to be, but God knows what’s best. He knows the mountains you are capable of climbing with the level of strength you currently have. Trust God’s timing, which means believing that where you are now is where you’re supposed to be, and when the time is right, you will get everything you are meant to have.
There are lessons to be learned at this level. God is developing your character at this level. He is showing you things about yourself at this level. And He is ensuring that you are fit for the next level before He takes you there.
Don’t be discouraged. Even if you are uncomfortable at this moment, and you desire to go higher and do bigger things, accept God’s pace, and keep on confessing His word over your life. And it will come to pass at the appointed season.
I don’t think there is any Scripture more fitting for today’s devotion than Galatians 6:9 NLT, which is why I’m stirring this very popular verse into your cup of inspiration. It says, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that your season of preparation precedes your season of release. If you remain steadfast, you will go higher. And best of all, the character God developed in you in the valley will sustain you on the mountain.
Now, let’s pray.
God, there are days when I feel frustrated by where I am, and I feel like I am ready to move faster and go higher. But I know Your timing is perfect, even if it isn’t what I prefer. Please help me to go at Your pace and trust You to release what is meant for me when I am in the proper position to receive it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
