I heard someone express frustration with the time it took to enter their calling. With restlessness, they exclaimed, "You'd think by now, I would have gotten somewhere. I don't understand why God is holding out on me?"
From their perspective, the Lord’s intentions should be immediate. This individual couldn't understand why the Lord hadn‘t already released his destiny. He saw this sense of uncertainty as an indictment against him. In his mind, the Lord was displeased and was judging him. As the future seemed less certain, uncomfortable questions had to be entertained.
I tried to explain that he was looking at things all wrong. What was understood as an unreasonable delay was actually God’s mercy. Sometimes the Lord takes us down the longer road to develop stamina. While the “extra steps” are rarely appreciated, one's character must always catch up with their callings.
I explained to this grumbling man that if a direct route to the "promise land" was available, most would take and wouldn't survive. Few are truly prepared to face the giants. Part of God's way of protecting his own is by moving them forward in a "round-about way."
This is what occurred in ancient Israel. As they left Egypt on a journey that should have taken forty days, they went on a forty-year detour. The people were confused, but the Lord knew exactly what was transpiring.
Moses said, "When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, 'If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt'"(Exodus 13:17).
Sometimes God takes us down the longer road because he wants to shield us. He doesn't want us to give up during battle and "go back to Egypt." Most think that they’re stronger than they are. In the Lord's matchless wisdom, he keeps us from battles we aren't equipped to fight.
What seems slow to many is a demonstration of God’s inexhaustible love. What's slowing down your future isn't the Lord—it's you.
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