Whispers in the WildernessSample

God's Plan with God's Pace

Here's what we know about the wilderness: people rarely go there on purpose. Nobody books that flight, but the guy responsible for two-thirds of the New Testament did.

When examining the life and ministry of the great Saul of Tarsus, at the beginning, he was THE rising star in Judaism, basking in religious achievements and recognition. His conversion on the road to Damascus is well documented: a blinding light and the voice of Jesus questioning his persecution of Him. This encounter led Saul to be baptized into the faith he once opposed.

And instead of leveraging his background and zeal in his new mission, Saul opted for an unexpected route. He chose isolation in the Arabian Desert and held back from joining the church leaders in advancing the 1st-century church for three years. This wasn’t a random choice; it was intentional. The desert allowed him space to recalibrate, reflect, and reconnect with God. He realized that he had previously mistaken human applause for divine approval.

This transformational period led Saul, the well-acclaimed Pharisee, to become Paul, the Apostle, trading a life of religious prestige for one filled with afflictions and yet arguably having a more significant impact on Christianity.

You would think Paul would have opted in to having more social media followers and being in a hurry to get where God was calling him. But nope, that's not how Paul rolled. What we can learn from Paul in the wilderness is that sometimes you don't just have to trust God with His plan; you have to trust God's plan with God's pace. Perhaps you feel like you should be further along in your life than you are. But I want to encourage you to be where you are and trust that God has you exactly where you need to be for today and that He'll get you to where you need to be in the future when you need to be there.

If you're in the wilderness today, don't rush the process. Perhaps God has something He wants to whisper to you before you move on.

Today's Prayer:

Lord, in my own wilderness, guide my patience and my heart. As Saul became Paul in the quiet, may I, too, find Your whispers. Teach me to trust not just Your plan but also Your pace. In Your embrace, let me not rush but relish the lessons of the waiting. In your precious name, Amen.