There’s an aching emptiness that comes from knowing you’re gifted… and feeling like the world will never see it.
You’ve prayed. You’ve prepared. You’ve stayed faithful to God. And yet…
The doors stay shut.
The opportunities pass by.
The dream still feels distant.
And maybe you’ve asked the same question I once did:
“God, what’s the point of my gifts if I never get to use them?”
Today, I want to speak to the woman quietly carrying her calling, wondering if she misheard God… or worse, disappointed Him.
Here are five scriptural truths the Lord has shown me about why He sometimes delays visibility or promotion, even when we’re ready and willing.
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward…” — 1 Samuel 16:13
David was anointed king as a teenager, then immediately went back to the sheep fields.
The oil had flowed.
The call was confirmed.
But God’s timing still required hiddenness.
Why? Because God wasn’t just preparing a king; He was shaping the heart of a shepherd who would know how to lead with compassion.
Joseph… remained in prison. — Genesis 40:23
“Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph…” — Genesis 41:14
Joseph interpreted dreams, walked in integrity, and was forgotten. But when the time was right, the waiting ended suddenly.
God didn’t waste a single moment of his prison.
In fact, Joseph’s promotion came wrapped in a summons that couldn’t have arrived too soon.
The time you’ve spent studying, serving, and preparing in secret is not wasted; it’s your sacred investment.
“Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age…” — Luke 3:23
The Savior of the world waited three decades for a public platform.
Can you imagine that kind of patience?
That kind of obedience?
God was preparing the people to receive Jesus. He was preparing the circumstances in government and religious leaders that would cause His ministry to bring the desired results. He won’t put us on display before the environment is prepared for our success.
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” — Genesis 6:22
Noah built the ark in dry weather, probably mocked by many.
He had no sign of a storm, just a Word from the Lord.
And yet he built.
And he waited.
Sometimes, the reward isn’t applause. It’s knowing you’ve done exactly what God asked.
Obedience is its own form of elevation in the Kingdom.
“I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my justice is with the Lord…” — Isaiah 49:4
Even the prophet felt unseen and unfruitful.
But here’s what’s sacred:
God sees the seeds, not just the spotlight.
He measures success not by how wide your reach is, but by how rooted your faithful obedience is.
After God healed me from anxiety, I had a vision to start a nonprofit for teen girls.
I saw it all clearly: the building, the curriculum, the community.
I prepared. I prayed. I planned.
But the doors never opened.
The funding didn’t come.
I lost a position that I thought was tied to the dream.
I felt spiritually homeless, disoriented, and confused.
But in the quiet, God invited me to rest. To stop striving. To trust that His timing was still perfect. In the waiting, I did what my hands found to do.
Years later, I had the chance to mentor two teen girls deeply.
Just two.
They were the first fruits of the vision God planted in me. The dream is still alive and ready to burst forth. The fulness has yet to be seen, but I believe in the vision more than ever. My hands didn’t build the building, but God used those girls to build a bridge to my future.
Sometimes the dream isn’t denied…
It’s just dressed differently.
And I believe this with my whole heart:
On this side of the millennial reign, or the other, every God-given dream will be fulfilled.
💛 Encouragement for You
If you’re in a hidden place right now, please hear me:
You’re not behind.
You’re not forgotten.
You’re not doing it wrong.
Just because no one sees you doesn’t mean you’re not in His plan.
Your obedience in the shadows is preparing you for a glory that can’t be described.
I created a free devotional called “Faithful in the Hidden Place” to minister to women like you.
It’s full of scripture, reflection prompts, and encouragement to help you stay rooted while you wait.
✨ Type "HIDDEN" below or reply to this post, and I’ll send it to you with love.
There is fruit in your faithfulness, seen and unseen.
Keep tending it, beloved. You are not forgotten.