Patience in Preparation by David Jeremiah

Patience in Preparation And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such as one as this [Joseph], a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Genesis 41:38 We know virtually nothing about the life of Christ from His infancy until His public ministry began (exception: Luke 2:41-52). The same is true of John the Baptist. Even Moses spent forty years as a shepherd before becoming the Hebrews’ deliverer. And after the apostle Paul was converted to Christ, it was fourteen years before he was welcomed fully by the leaders of the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:1). Preparation for ministry takes time and patience.

Recommended Reading: Galatians 1:15–2:1

Joseph had the same experience. Prior to becoming second-in-command in Egypt, he was a prideful teenager who was sold into slavery by his brothers. In Egypt he was thrown into prison based on a false accusation, where he languished for two years. But during these times of testing “the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2-3, 21). Finally, God’s favor gave him an audience with Pharaoh, and his ministry in Egypt began. Joseph reached maturity on God’s perfect timetable. If you want to be used by God in ministry, be faithful where you are. Faithfulness in little things leads to faithfulness in much (Matthew 25:21, 23). God never places any real emphasis on the present—except as preparation for the future. Joni Eareckson Tada