By Opeyemi Akinbo
Have you ever looked around and felt like you’re falling behind? Like others are making progress with ease, while you’re stuck in the same place, struggling to achieve even the smallest goals?
Have you ever questioned your worth, your purpose, or even God’s love for you, just because of your current situation?
You’re not alone. But before you allow those thoughts to take root, here’s a truth you need to hear: You are not disadvantaged. You are being preserved and prepared for the throne.
The Wilderness Isn’t the End
One of the biblical stories that has always stirred my heart is the story of David. Time and time again, I’ve pondered what must have gone through his young mind while he was alone in the wilderness, taking care of his father’s sheep. Meanwhile, his older brothers remained at home, enjoying comfort and company.
I’ve imagined him asking questions like:
“Am I really my father’s son? Why do I bear the weight of responsibility while my siblings rest at home? Is there something I’m not being told?”
It must have been difficult to be unseen. Overlooked. Left out when the prophet came calling. And yet, that same wilderness that looked like a place of rejection was actually a place of refinement.
Misunderstood Seasons
To the outside world, David’s situation may have looked like misfortune. Perhaps his peers saw him and concluded he was just an unlucky shepherd boy. His brothers may have believed they were the more fortunate ones.
But if only they knew.
If only they realized that the wilderness was not a sign of failure, but a sign of preservation.
Even David may have grown weary. He may have accepted that the wilderness was all there ever would be. But he was wrong.
You may be wrong, too.
God Preserves with Purpose
What we often perceive as delay or denial is actually God’s way of preparing us for something bigger, something specific. The palace isn’t built overnight, and neither are kings and queens. Before there’s a crown, there is a season of obscurity, training, and pruning.
In that period, doors may seem shut. Opportunities may seem scarce. Others may rise while you remain in the shadows.
But God is working.
READ ALSO: Davido: My Career Suffers Anytime I Fight Chioma
He is not punishing you. He is preserving you.
You are not being left behind. You are being set apart.
Maximize the Wilderness
This season is not in vain. The skills, strength, and resilience you’re building now will be critical when you reach the palace.
Think about it, what if David had run away when the lions and bears came for his flock? What if he had seen danger and fled? What if he had allowed bitterness to settle in his heart and walked away from his post?
He would have missed the very training ground that prepared him for Goliath. He would have forfeited the throne he was destined to sit on.
The wilderness is a proving ground. Use it wisely.
People may look at you and conclude that you’re not as fortunate as they are. You might even compare your life to others and wonder why your path is so different.
You might cry. You might question. You might feel forgotten.
But I’m here to remind you:
You are not disadvantaged. You are preserved. You are being prepared. You are being positioned, for the throne.
Make judicious use of your wilderness. The experiences you’re gathering now will be your tools in the palace. The road to royalty isn’t smooth, but it is sure. And every step matters.
So hold your head high. Keep going. And remember,
This season must not waste, maximize it.
Have you been in a wilderness season?
Share your experience or a lesson you’ve learned in the comments, your story could encourage someone else still in the valley.
