No one likes to wait for success. We all want to achieve our dreams as soon as possible – the quicker the better.  But in spite of our hard work and good attitude, God does not always promote us immediately.  And that can be frustrating and discouraging.

However, when we begin to pursue any big goal, we need to remember that there is a preparation period involved.  When we start out, we aren’t ready to handle the responsibilities that will come along with that goal.  We need time to prepare.

Think of it this way. Let’s say you meet a four-year-old who you know is destined to be a world leader.  Should that child lead a country today?  After all, if he or she is destined to do so, then why wait?  “Well,” you would tell me, “That would be silly.  Four-year-olds can’t be heads of government.  They have to mature and grow up.”  In the same way, we are not ready today for the big achievement that lies ahead of us.  We need a period of preparation to develop the skills and emotional maturity to successfully handle that achievement.

A number of years ago, I worked for a non-profit organization that helped women who were in crisis or who were victims of domestic violence. I worked at this job when I was in my late 30s and early 40s.  At that point, I had some life experience under my belt, so I was prepared for the demands of the job.  I already was married and had a daughter.  I understood the challenges of life, and I had a level of maturity and compassion that I would not have possessed in my 20s.  I was ready for the responsibilities of the position.

Life is full of preparation periods. We prepare for work by going to school.  We prepare for parenthood by going through a pregnancy.  The preparation period is an integral part of any endeavor.  As a result, the key to success is spending our time thoughtfully during our period of preparation.

That means that we need to embrace the whole process that leads to success. We can’t allow ourselves to be discouraged simply because we aren’t achieving our goals as quickly as we would like.  Instead, we need to be confident that our goals will come to pass.  Then we need to use our preparation time to prepare for the challenges that inevitably will accompany success.

Think of a woman who is pregnant. What if during her pregnancy, she got aggravated because the baby wasn’t born during the first or second month?  What if she got depressed because the baby wasn’t coming quickly enough, so she didn’t prepare for the baby by buying clothes or a cradle?  Well, you would say that she was being silly.  You would tell her that babies take time to grow and develop before they are ready to be born.  You would assure her that the baby will come.  And you would encourage her to prepare for the baby in the meantime.

It is the same with our goals and dreams. We have to be confident that we will achieve our goals.  And we have to strategically use our waiting time to prepare for when we ultimately succeed.

Are you in a preparation period? If so, don’t lose hope.  Know that if you keep working hard and stay in faith, you will realize your goals.  In the meantime, make the most of this time and prepare, prepare, prepare.

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