“Promotions require preparation.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 28, 2023
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8
When I was in college, I took a pottery class. During the semester, I learned how to pound a lump of clay to get the air bubbles out, (called “wedging”), form the clay into a vessel on the wheel, trim it, glaze it, and fire it for use.
It would have been impossible to take a lump of clay and immediately turn it into a utensil without preparation. Instead, it needed to be molded, shaped, and refined by fire first by an artist who had a purpose for the clay.
We are all like lumps of clay in the Potter’s hand, waiting for promotion as useful vessels.
We want to experience God’s purpose for our lives. Perhaps we want to be elevated into a new position or new calling. But, waiting can be difficult and sometimes painful as God molds us, makes us, shapes us, and sometimes disciplines us!
Most of the time, promotions don’t come easy. There is a lot of hard work and struggle on the path to success. But that doesn’t keep us from wanting the easy route. Most of us want to quickly receive the promotion God has planned for us—and we want it right now!
As much as we want to immediately inherit our promotion, we may not be ready, so God has to ready us.
If you were able to quickly push pass the preparation, you wouldn’t be ready for the promotion. Perhaps your character couldn’t handle it. You wouldn’t be emotionally ready, or the circumstances wouldn’t be aligned for your success.
When God promotes you, you will have no regrets. But if you run ahead of Him by trying to secure the promise of your promotion, you will experience disappointment, distress, failure, and fear. There is no peace if you are trying to be your own god.
But when God brings promotion, you will have the confidence of knowing He is with you and that He is the almighty, powerful Lord who reigns over your life.
God knows what you need to get ready for His next assignment, whether that be marriage, a new job, becoming a parent, a new ministry, or using your gifts in a new way.
Promotions require preparation.
Even Jesus experienced a period of preparation in the wilderness, which included temptation, before His formal ministry began. God has perfect timing, and He is never late.
During preparation, God refines our character, strengthens our resolve, gives us greater courage, or whatever we need to be ready. God knows what you need. He knows who you are now, and He knows how He needs to prepare you for your promotion. He is faithful.
Trust Him while you are waiting. Don’t get ahead of Him. Prayerfully listen to Him and seek Him for direction. He will make it clear to you when He’s ready for you to step into your promotion. Then all the glory will go to Him!
“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel” (Jeremiah 18:3).
Prayer
Lord, I submit to you and how you are preparing me for promotion. Help me to wait patiently, to yield to you and not resent the waiting, shaping, and molding. I trust you. You are the Potter, I am your clay. I love you, Jesus. Amen.
Application
Spend time in prayer thanking the Lord for how He is preparing you for promotion.
Related Reading
Lamentations 4:2; Isaiah 29:16; James 4:10
Worship Resource
Steven Curtis Chapman: God is God
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