Take a moment to look at your life—the blessings you’ve received, your job, the car you drive, and the people around you. Are you satisfied with where you are? Whether we realize it or not, all of us have a tremendous amount to be grateful for. We should be incredibly thankful to our Heavenly Father for how far He’s brought us. Things in our lives could have taken a drastic turn on many occasions, but we’re here, above ground, and it’s all because of God’s grace. Most of us realize the debt of gratitude we owe Him, but we’re also not fully satisfied with where we are. That’s not a bad thing. We can be grateful, yet not satisfied; it motivates us to seek and go higher. We want to experience more and reach the next level of blessings God has in store for us, but we also must recognize that going higher is a process, and it’s not always comfortable.
There’s an old saying, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” This piece of common-sense wisdom warns us not to take on more than we can handle when it comes to tasks, commitments, or resources. We’ve all been there, though, pushing ourselves too far and ending up exhausted or overwhelmed. But when it comes to the things of God, He doesn’t allow that to happen. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” This verse means that God won’t let us face temptations that are beyond our ability to resist and that He always provides a way to overcome them. In the same way, He doesn’t give us blessings that we’re not yet ready to manage. If we’re not spiritually prepared to handle the responsibility of a promotion, He won’t give it to us. God is purposeful, faithful, and never wasteful. He knows exactly when we’re ready for the next level, and He makes sure we have the spiritual maturity and wisdom to steward it well.
Growth often comes with discomfort. Jesus Himself made it clear in Matthew 10:38 (NLT): “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Our Lord and Savior didn’t have an easy road. He faced persecution, rejection, and unimaginable pain before he was exalted to the right hand of God. If we’re going to grow spiritually and be ready for greater blessings, we have to be willing to embrace discomfort just like he did.
God is a God of order, and if we look closely at Scripture, no one in the Bible was promoted before enduring trials. Whether it was David, Joseph, or Paul, they all faced challenges that prepared them for the roles God had in store. Romans 8:18 (NLT) reminds us, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” The hardships we face today are nothing in comparison to the blessings waiting for us on the other side. This should give us hope to keep pressing forward, knowing that our struggles now are preparing us for something far greater.
There are a lot of challenges in life; it can be tough, but it’s important to remember that Jesus has already triumphed over these hardships on our behalf. Because of what God accomplished through the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, we can press toward the higher calling God has for us. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:14 (NLT), “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” And this is what we must do. We can’t forget that with elevation comes responsibility, and as we press to go higher in Christ, God rewards us.
James 1:2-3 (NLT) says “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” We can experience joy when troubles come our way because we know that what comes next is a beautiful reward. Be excited, endure and embrace the discomfort. It’s these experiences that give us the strength and endurance we need to keep our faith anchored in God.
He has great things in store for us, but we can’t expect to be promoted to the next level of blessings without being spiritually prepared. The preparation period might be tough, but it’s worth it. The growth, authority, and spiritual maturity we gain during this time will equip us to steward the blessings God is preparing for us. So, let’s keep our eyes on the prize, endure with joy, and trust that God’s timing and process are always perfect. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Promotion Requires Preparation”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.