We live in a world that treats speed like it’s the whole game. In our culture, hustle is praised. If you’re not moving fast, stacking wins according to societal standards, or constantly showing progress, people start to treat you like you’re slipping. And it’s not just them, you might start side-eyeing yourself, too, asking things like, “Did I miss it? Why am I not further along by now?” If we’re not careful, we’ll start to judge our worth by how fast we’re moving, but praise God—success in His eyes isn’t measured by a stopwatch. He’s not rushing to try to impress people in the way that we do. He’s in the business of transformation. And when He builds a life, He does it with purpose, not pressure.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) reminds us, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Just because you can’t see the beautiful blessing coming your way yet, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Romans 8:28 assures us that God is working behind the scenes, causing all things to work together for our good. He’s not just working in our external reality, but our internal reality too. He’s shaping your character, healing your heart, teaching you how to hear His voice more clearly. You’re not stuck—you’re in process. You must be confident that God’s divine process never wastes time. It prepares you.

God is never late. He’s just not on our schedule.

Sometimes, we forget that our God is omniscient. There isn’t any detail about our past, present, or future that He doesn’t know. Long before we encounter the storm, He already knows its strength, its duration, and the growth it will bring. God is never unprepared. Even when we feel overwhelmed or unsure of what’s next, God isn’t caught off guard. He already knows every twist, delay, and divine setup along the way. We can rest in the truth that we are always safely held by the One who sees the whole picture.

Scripture reminds us of this in Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT): “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” God’s timing isn’t random. He speaks with the end in mind. He’s not pacing your life by comparison—He’s pacing it by calling. Just because you haven’t seen it manifest yet doesn’t mean the vision is dead. It means God is still shaping you for what’s ahead.

Before He releases you, He roots you.

David didn’t walk straight into kingship after being anointed in 1 Samuel 16. He was sent back to the field, then to the battlefield, and eventually into a long season of running, hiding, and wrestling with fear and uncertainty. But in those hidden years, God was developing something in David that position alone couldn’t produce. He was building him, not just giving him a title. David was learning to lead and to depend on God when no one else had his back. And that process made David a man after God’s own heart.

This is how God builds strength that lasts. He doesn’t just give you the platform—you have to be able to carry the weight of it. And that means being deeply rooted in His love, His character, and His Word. 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” There’s a time appointed for your release. But first, God works beneath the surface. He humbles, teaches, strengthens, and matures us. He removes things that can’t go with you. So, if you feel stuck or overlooked, don’t rush the process. You’re not being ignored. You’re being made ready. The question is—will you surrender to the build?

God builds deeply before He builds visibly.

Jesus spent 30 years in private before stepping into public ministry. Not because He wasn’t ready in power, but because the timing of heaven always honors the full plan of God. You may feel hidden—but that hiddenness is holy. Colossians 3:3 (NLT) tells us,
“For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”
What’s hidden is still alive, still growing, and in God, it’s never wasted—it is sacred. The hidden years are often where God does His most important work. It’s where character is formed, where the private altar is built, and where dependence on God becomes non-negotiable.

If you feel isolated or that God has you hidden, it’s because He’s still forming you. And when He brings you out, it won’t be to impress people. It’ll be to reflect Him and His glory. You’ll come out carrying His heart, not just your ambition.

You’re not late.

This journey is not about keeping up with the world’s expectations. It’s about being transformed by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. And that transformation takes place in layers, over time. It’s not just about what you do—it’s about who you’re becoming in the process. Philippians 2:13 (NLT) says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” He’s not just working things out around you—He’s working things in you.

Let go of the pressure to perform. Let go of the need to prove. You are not behind—you’re in the hands of the only One who can develop you for the very thing He created you for. And when it’s time, He’ll open the right door. But for now, stay on the path. Stay surrendered. He’s building something beautiful in you that will last. ■

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.

“Not Behind—Right on God’s Schedule”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie 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.