Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
1. What does the passage say?
- God already has a plan for each of us.
- His plan is good, even when our circumstances seem difficult.
- The waiting season is often a season of preparation for what’s coming next.
2. What does this mean?
Who
- Who went through a preparation season?
- Joseph – Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and jailed.
- David – Anointed as king but spent years tending sheep, fighting wild animals, and later, running from Saul.
What
- What was happening during their preparation?
- Joseph’s challenges
- Betrayed and sold → Developed resilience.
- Worked in Potiphar’s house → Learned leadership and integrity.
- Jailed unfairly → Used his gift of dream interpretation.
- Key lesson: His service in prison led him to Pharaoh’s palace.
- David’s challenges
- Tended sheep → Learned responsibility.
- Fought a lion and a bear → Developed courage and battle skills.
- Played the harp for King Saul → Got exposed to palace life.
- Key lesson: His skills made room for him before kings (Proverbs 18:16).
- Joseph’s challenges
- What does this teach us about waiting?
- Waiting is not wasted time but a time of growth, service, and skill development.
- Challenges prepare us for the greater assignments ahead.
- Every experience, whether painful or joyful, is part of God’s plan.
Why
- Why does God allow challenges in our preparation season?
- To build strength – Joseph learned endurance in prison; David gained courage by fighting animals.
- To refine character – Joseph remained faithful in every situation, and David stayed humble even after being anointed king.
- To position us for greatness – If Joseph never interpreted the prisoner’s dreams, he wouldn’t have met Pharaoh. If David never played the harp, he wouldn’t have been known in the palace.
- Why do we need to serve while waiting?
- The quote says: “When God asks you to wait, do what waiters do – serve.“
- Joseph interpreted dreams in prison, and it led to his breakthrough.
- David played the harp, and it positioned him for favor in the king’s court.
- Serving during waiting is part of the process!
How
- How can we embrace our preparation season?
✅ Be faithful in the small things, just like David and Joseph.
✅ Keep developing your skills – you never know where they will take you.
✅ Use your gifts to serve others – your breakthrough might come from that.
✅ Trust God’s timing – He has already preplanned your blessing!
3. APPLY – How can I live this out?
- Identify what season you are in – Are you in a waiting or preparation phase?
- Ask yourself: What skills can I develop now that will help me in the future?
- Stay consistent – Don’t give up when things seem tough; God is working behind the scenes.
💡 Reflection Question:
What “small” task are you doing now that God might be using to prepare you for something bigger?
4. PRAY – Respond to God
“Lord, help me to trust You in my season of preparation. Teach me to serve faithfully, grow my skills, and remain patient in the process. I know that You have a preplanned blessing for me, and I choose to wait with faith and action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Final Thought
The waiting season is never wasted. Joseph’s journey from prison to palace and David’s journey from shepherd to king remind us that God is always working behind the scenes. Keep serving, keep growing, and trust that your time is coming!
Learning never stops.
Take a moment to reflect and act on what resonates with you.
Keep evolving.
– MJ Nyota
