I had attempted to leave our former ministry six years before the time I eventually left. I presumed it was time to leave. But for my pastor’s insistence that I should not leave at that time, the story would have been different today. I later realised that God had kept me under His mighty hands for my due season. Today, as our church ministry clocks 8 years in the city of Akure, I look back in gratitude to say; “Thank you, Lord, for keeping me under your mighty hand.”
Friend, you need to be kept under the mighty hand of God so that you can be lifted in your due time (1 Peter 5:6). This is one missing ingredient in the training and preparation of a lot of people today. Many people want to rise. But not many people love to go down. The principle of the kingdom is this; you must descend before your ascend (Ephesians 4:9-10). You must decrease before you increase. It is those who take roots downwards that would bear fruit upwards (Isaiah 37:31).
Sometimes, the mighty hand of God would look like the wicked hand of man (Genesis 32:24-30). This is why you must learn to see God in people, places, and processes. Stop fighting your pastor, spiritual father, church, parents, employer, or anyone whom God is using to hide you before He shows you. Like Elijah, there is a time to hide yourself, and there is a time to show yourself (1 Kings 17:3, 18:1). Like John the Baptist, there is a time to be in the wilderness before your time of manifestation (Luke 1:80).
There is a time to do ministry in private before attempting to do it in public (1 Samuel 17:34-37, John 7:1-8). Let God keep you under His mighty hand. Don’t be like Ephriam, who was half-baked (Hosea 7:8). Don’t step out before time. Sometimes, what God will do with you in one year would be bigger than what your unguarded passion and premature exposure would achieve in your entire life.
Today, I want to encourage people who are under the mighty hand of God. Please, stay there. Hang on. Your due season would soon come (Galatians 6:9). Stop fighting training. Stop fighting process. Stop trying to show yourself. Let God reveal you. If God has called you into the ministry, wait for the marching order. Be properly released. Receive the blessing of your church family (Acts 13:1-2). Don’t jump out prematurely, so you won’t add to the number of casualties out there.
When you are under the mighty hand of God, you need to maintain the right attitude. Attitude is everything. Stop complaining. Stop playing truant. Be positive. Be available. Be consistent. Be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). Stay humble. A lot of people have missed their portion because of the wrong attitude.
You cannot use a carnal method to carry out a spiritual assignment (Galatians 3:3). The wrath of man does not work out the righteousness of God (James 1:20). If you are not released from a place, don’t release yourself. The true test of a divine call is the patience of the called. You need to pass the test of patience. He that believes will not make haste (Isaiah 28:16, James 1:4). Don’t be a rebel running with a divine assignment. I know that God has called you, but don’t let the devil use you. Selah.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria