As many of you know, on February 18th, I underwent surgery to remove a tumor from my pituitary gland. It is difficult for me to accept that it has only been four weeks since surgery — it feels much longer. In this short time, I have been reminded of a very profound lesson, and it didn't come from a book or a sermon. God used my own body.
I felt fine. I had almost no pain and only a few minor after-effects from surgery. So, when my two sisters came down to check on me a week after surgery, I took them out to breakfast, and we stopped at a store to walk around. The doctor had said walking was good for me, and I felt good — so why not? It wasn't long before I realized it was too much, too soon. We returned home and I spent the rest of the afternoon on the sofa resting.
The following week my doctor and surgeon said they were pleased with my progress. Feeling encouraged, I decided to attend church. It was wonderful seeing people and sharing the good news. Then the music started. I stood up, began to praise, and before the first song ended, I had to sit down — I was feeling lightheaded. Apparently the vibration from the music was affecting my only partially healed brain. Daisy looked at me and wisely said, "Let's go."
Back home, sitting on the sofa and watching church online, I began to pray. And in that quiet moment, God showed me something I already knew but had not been paying attention to.
There Is a Process.
Just because I felt fine on the outside did not mean the inside had finished healing. The work happening beneath the surface is real, even when you cannot see it or feel it. And if you refuse to respect that process — if you push ahead before the time is right — you risk undermining everything that has already been done.
This is not only physical but spiritual as well.
The Scriptures are full of men and women who had to go through a process before they arrived at their purpose. Joseph spent years in a pit and a prison before he stood in the palace. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before he stood before Pharaoh. David was anointed king as a young shepherd boy, but it would be years before he actually sat on the throne.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." — Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
Notice that verse does not say God began a good work in you and then stopped. It says He will carry it on to completion. There is a process between the beginning and the finish, and God is present in every stage of it.
Don't Rush the Process.
It is human nature to want to skip ahead. When we feel good, we want to go. When we receive a good report, we want to move. But feeling ready and being ready are not always the same thing.
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." — Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
Notice the order in that verse — wait, then soar. The waiting is not wasted time. The waiting is part of the work.
When I sat down in that church seat, lightheaded and humbled, I wasn't experiencing a setback — I was receiving a lesson. God was not saying, "You can't do this." He was saying, "Not yet — trust the process."
The Process Is the Path.
Whatever you are believing God for today — healing, restoration, a breakthrough, a calling — understand this: there is a process. There are things He is doing in you right now, beneath the surface, that you cannot yet see. Spiritual maturity, character, endurance, faith — these things are not downloaded in an instant. They are built through the process.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." — Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
All things — including the waiting. Including the slowing down. Including the moments when you have to sit on the sofa instead of standing in worship.
The process is not a detour from God's plan. The process IS the plan.
For Small Group Leaders — Practical Guide
Using This Devotional in Your Group
This devotion lends itself naturally to open, honest conversation. The goal is not simply to discuss the content, but to help your group members identify where they are in their own process — and to find the courage to trust God in that place. Create a safe, unhurried atmosphere where people feel free to share honestly.
Begin by reading the devotional aloud, or ask a group member to read it. Before moving into questions, simply ask: "What stood out to you most as you heard this?" Allow a few responses without diving too deep yet. This warms the room and surfaces what the Holy Spirit is already doing in your group members.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever felt ready for something — a next step, a new season, a breakthrough — only to find out that God's timing was different from yours? Share what that felt like.
The devotional mentions Joseph, Moses, and David — all of whom went through a long process before stepping into their purpose. Which of these three do you most identify with right now, and why?
Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God will complete the work He started in us. What area of your life do you most need to trust Him with right now?
Is there a place in your life where you have been rushing ahead of God — pushing through before the healing or the preparation is complete? What would it look like to slow down and honor the process?
Isaiah 40:31 links waiting on the Lord directly to renewed strength. What does "waiting on the Lord" practically look like in your daily life? Is it something you do intentionally, or is it a struggle?
The devotional says, "The process is not a detour from God's plan — the process IS the plan." How does that statement challenge or encourage you personally?
Application Challenge
Ask each group member to identify one specific area of their life where they sense God is calling them to trust the process rather than rush ahead. Encourage them to write it down and commit to praying over it daily until your next meeting.
Close by reading Romans 8:28 together aloud, then spend time in prayer — specifically asking God to give each person the patience, faith, and peace to trust Him in the middle of their process.
For the Leader
This topic may surface deep emotions in your group. Some members may be walking through seasons of waiting that feel long and painful — unanswered prayers, delayed promises, difficult seasons of preparation. Be sensitive to this. Resist the urge to rush toward resolution or quick answers. Sometimes the most powerful thing a small group can do is simply sit with someone in their process and remind them they are not alone — and neither was Joseph, Moses, or David.
That is exactly where God met them. And He will meet your group members right where they are too.