“When someone is healed instantly, it often speaks of their identity as a son or daughter of God. But when healing or freedom is progressive and takes place over time it’s often because a person is being trained for war, and when you’re trained for war, you gain authority and power in that area.”

Brian Johnson (When God Becomes Real)

As a leader, I’ve come to terms with the fact that God will often take me on what I like to call the scenic route of life.

Whereas people around me, even those I serve as a leader, may get somewhat fast breakthroughs in certain areas of their lives, mine take time. And I mean TIME. So much so that I get shocked when something in my life happens with moderate speed. I’m used to having to wait. 

In my waiting, I’ve learned that the process I’m going through usually has a little to do with me and a lot to do with those God is sending me to. There are times I would jokingly say how only 2% of what I’m going through is about me and the rest is because of who God wants me to reach. Only for the Holy Spirit to quickly quip that it’s in fact 20% that’s for me and the other 80% is about the people. 

I talk a lot about the cost of the call because I think it’s a conversation we can’t afford to ignore. I keep reiterating that what often breaks us isn’t so much the weight of what we’re carrying but how we’re carrying it. 

Our expectations have a huge role to play in how we carry the weight of leadership. If you expect things to be easy/easier than they are, then when it gets rough you’ll be looking for the quickest exit you can find. 

I can’t say I blame anyone for that. God knows I’ve thought about it a time or two. But part of what keeps me going is having brutally honest conversations with God about where I’m at and exactly how I feel about being on lap 3948 of the same mountain. David was onto something I must say. 

Taking up leadership in God’s kingdom isn’t a cute assignment. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s not where you go to have things easy. It’s an acceptance that there are things you will have to go through that others may not and not to begrudge anyone for it. 

So today, I want to encourage you to hang in there, especially if you’re on the scenic route of being prepared by God.

There is a level of power and authority that we can only get by actually walking through the valley. There are things we will never comprehend about ourselves and God unless we continue putting one foot in front of the other and emerge on the other side. 

Allow God to teach you how to navigate the valley. So that when the time comes, the lost He brings your way may have a worthy guide in you to see them through. 

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Psalm 144:1-2 NIV