So, if you’re wondering why you’re not where you want to be, remember this: God is preparing you. He’s refining your character, developing your perseverance, and building your faith. The delay is not a denial—it’s an opportunity to grow in ways you never expected.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:42] The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,
[00:00:49] rightly dividing the word of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.
[00:00:55] You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast.
[00:00:59] And now, here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
[00:01:09] to another edition of Words of Inspiration
[00:01:13] where we dig into the truth of God's word and how it shapes our lives.
[00:01:21] And today's episode is titled, Why Aren't You There Yet?
[00:01:26] We'll be taking a look at James 1, verses 2-4
[00:01:33] and reading from the New International Version it reads,
[00:01:36] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
[00:01:40] whenever you face trials of many kinds,
[00:01:43] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
[00:01:47] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
[00:01:56] How often do we ask ourselves, why am I not where I want to be yet?
[00:02:02] Whether it's in our career, relationships, or personal goals, that question can be frustrating.
[00:02:09] But today, I want to encourage you with a new perspective.
[00:02:14] Sometimes the delay you're experiencing is not a detour, but part of God's preparation process.
[00:02:23] It's easy to feel discouraged when you're not seeing the progress you hope for.
[00:02:29] We make plans, work hard, and yet it seems like we're standing still.
[00:02:34] But the Bible teaches us that God often uses seasons of waiting or delay to prepare us for what's ahead.
[00:02:43] James 1, verses 2-4 tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials,
[00:02:49] because these trials test our faith and produce perseverance.
[00:02:55] Think about that for a moment.
[00:02:57] The very thing that frustrates us, the delays, challenges, and obstacles are the tools God used to refine our character.
[00:03:08] You're not where you want to be yet, but that might be because God is doing a deeper work in you.
[00:03:14] He's developing something inside of you that can only come through perseverance.
[00:03:20] In seasons of frustration, God is also refining our character.
[00:03:26] He's shaping us into the person we need to be to handle the blessing or responsibilities that lie ahead.
[00:03:34] You see, God doesn't just want to get you to your destination.
[00:03:39] He wants us to grow and mature along the way.
[00:03:44] James 1 and 4 says,
[00:03:46] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
[00:03:53] God doesn't want us to arrive at our goals half-formed or unprepared.
[00:03:59] He wants us to be complete, fully equipped for the journey ahead.
[00:04:04] Sometimes we're in such a rush to get to where we want to be that we forget who we are becoming in the process.
[00:04:11] And that's just as important as the journey ahead.
[00:04:15] Another reason God might delay our progress is to build our faith.
[00:04:20] We all love the idea of faith, but the truth is, faith is often built in the waiting.
[00:04:28] It's in those seasons where we're unsure of the next step or where things aren't going according to our plan that we learn to trust God in new ways.
[00:04:38] James reminds us that our faith is being tested through these trials.
[00:04:42] But here's the beautiful part.
[00:04:45] That testing isn't meant to break us.
[00:04:48] It's meant to strengthen us.
[00:04:50] The more we learn to trust God in the waiting, the stronger our faith becomes.
[00:04:56] We come to realize that it's not about getting to our destination as quickly as possible, but about trusting God's process along the way.
[00:05:04] Romans 5 verses 3 through 4 echoes this idea.
[00:05:11] We also glory in the sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character hope through every frustration.
[00:05:23] God is producing something lasting.
[00:05:27] Hope, perseverance and a faith that can withstand life storms.
[00:05:32] Another key aspect of not being there yet is recognizing that God's timing is perfect.
[00:05:39] Often we set our own timelines for success or progress, but God's plan for our lives may look different from our own.
[00:05:48] Ecclesiastes 3 and 1 reminds us there's a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens.
[00:05:56] You may not be where you want to be yet because God knows that now is not the right time.
[00:06:03] He's aligning everything according to his will, not just for your benefit, but for the good of those around you and for his greater purposes.
[00:06:13] When we trust in God's timing, we find peace knowing that he is orchestrating things in ways we can't even imagine.
[00:06:22] So if you're wondering why you're not where you want to be, remember this.
[00:06:27] God is preparing you.
[00:06:29] He's refining your character, developing your perseverance and building your faith.
[00:06:35] The delay is not a denial.
[00:06:38] It's an opportunity to grow in ways you never expected.
[00:06:42] Brothers and sisters, instead of focusing on what hasn't happened, lean into what God is doing in you right now.
[00:06:50] Let perseverance finishes work so that when you do arrive at your destination, you'll be mature, complete and ready for everything God has in store.
[00:07:03] If today's message has encouraged you, please share it with someone who may need a reminder that God is at work, even in the waiting.
[00:07:12] Remember, your delay is part of God's perfect plan to prepare you for what's ahead.
[00:07:18] I thank you for spending time with me on today and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.
[00:07:24] Until then, God bless.
[00:07:33] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth.
[00:07:43] If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone.
[00:07:50] You can find The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and many more.
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[00:08:04] You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582 Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:08:13] or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com
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