God is always preparing you—even when it feels random or uncomfortable. The other night, I was on a Zoom training for work. We introduced a new digital platform for ministry directors to submit their event plans for the upcoming year. In a matter of moments, I went from attendee to co-hosting the event. And suddenly, I was moderating the comment section and guiding the Q&A. As I was helping out, it felt like I had been there before.
And then it hit me: I have been here before.
I remember when I was on the financial literacy campaign at the beginning of the pandemic. Back then, I sat through countless online trainings and even tried to co-host a virtual event. It was a disaster. I froze, tripped over my words, and wanted to run off camera.
But this ministry training felt so different. When I was asked to step in, I was calm, confident, and thankful that I had gone through those earlier, awkward moments. Those stumbles had actually prepared me for this.
That experience makes me think about Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What felt like random practice in the past was really preparation for the work God always had in mind.
By the end of this post, I hope you start to see your own challenges as part of God’s preparation process, rather than wasted time.
From financial literacy to ministry leadership
Life at the height of the pandemic was weird. I’m from NYC, so seeing 42nd and 34th street usually packed with people, suddenly look like a scene out of I Am Legend was wild! The world shut down, people were struggling to adjust, and many of us were just trying to stay alive.
When I joined the Financial Literacy campaign, I felt empowered. I was part of a movement teaching families how to build wealth through life insurance. But it wasn’t easy. I took the licensing exam three times before finally passing it on the fourth try. I had to learn marketing, build my confidence, and reshape how people and I saw myself.
After getting my license, I was quickly asked to lead study sessions and co-host more webinars. I appreciated that others believed in me, but I wasn’t ready. I continued to stutter, forgot key points, and battled stage fright. The insurance industry was cutthroat, and ultimately, it was not the environment I wanted to be in. When I decided to leave, some criticized me for “not giving my all.” And at the time, it felt like I’d failed and wasted my time.
But years later, I realized none of it was wasted. Every uncomfortable moment built skills I could now use with confidence—for God’s work.
Examples of preparation in the bible
When I think about my story, it isn’t that different from God’s preparation process for leaders in scripture. So let’s take a look at some examples of how God prepares His people before he gives them an assignment.
- Moses was a shepherd in Midian for several years, learning the people he would lead out of Egypt.
- Joshua was Moses’ assistant for almost 40 years before he led Israel across the Jordan.
- David’s fearlessness of lions and bears prepared him to defeat Goliath.
God’s preparation process isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it feels like failure, repetition, or rejection. But Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
I didn’t know that 2020 was a transition period—a season of stretching and preparing. (I wrote more about that in Transition Period Meaning & How You Benefit if you want to peek into what that season looked like for me.)
But thinking about it now, I see it clearly: Holy Spirit had me practice in the world before using those skills in the kingdom. And now, the digital tools I once feared—I now use to serve God.
Trust God’s process vs. trusting the process
The next time you’re thrown into something unexpected, remember: you’re in God’s preparation process. Every test, every training, every “random” season is part of His bigger plan to shape you into the leader He’s called you to be.
And here’s the thing: trusting God’s process is not the same as “trust the process.” When people say that, it usually means putting your confidence in man’s systems, which almost always leads to disappointment. The Bible is clear—we are not to put our trust in man or lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Signs God is preparing you for something big
When you trust God’s process, your faith builds, and you start to see your challenges differently. What feels heavy or confusing now is really preparation for something greater later. And the way God preps you is steady, unshakable, and full of His love and adoration. Man’s double-mindedness can’t undo what God has built in you.
I was reminded of this while reading Judges 3:1–2. There were four tribes that didn’t drive out the remaining Canaanites in their land. God left those enemies there to train the younger generation in warfare and to test their faith and obedience. At first glance, that seems extreme—but sometimes it takes extreme preparation to bring out what’s already inside of you.
For more signs on how God prepares you, read the post I wrote called Bible Stories in Leadership: When Leaders Miss the Assignment. Great leaders like Moses and Aaron remind us that skipping steps or relying on man’s way instead of God’s can cost you!
When was a time God was preparing you for something, but you didn’t recognize it until later?
I’d love to hear your story—drop it in the comments or share it with someone who needs this reminder today.
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Bible Stories in Leadership: When Leaders Miss the Assignment
Great post!
Thank you for reading!