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Consider the following excerpt from the story of Moses and the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt: 

Exodus 13:17-18 (NLT)

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army.

Although the path through Philistine territory was shorter, God did not lead them this way because the Israelites were not yet ready for a battle. God will not lead us into something we cannot handle. This might mean having to take a longer road to get to where He wants us to be.

God wanted the Israelites to possess the Promised Land, but He knew that they must first mature as a culture and a nation before possessing the land. In fact, they still needed to catch the vision of what God had in store for them.

Quite often Christians are not aware of the magnitude of the plans God has on their lives. It is for good reason. God knew that the Israelites would be able to conquer the Promised Land, but if they had known that they would have many battles, they would have much rather stayed in Egypt. It is important that you learn to trust God and follow His leading. The steps by which He leads you will lead to a bigger picture than you ever could imagine.

Even if you know where God is leading you next, it is important that you wait for his timing. Learning to recognize when God has you in a season of preparation is vital to maximizing your potential. Preparation always pays off.