Before David became the king of Israel, he spent years tending a flock of sheep in the wilderness. That’s not an impressive start. But that’s where he built his relationship with God and honed his skills as a strategist and warrior. If you want to succeed, here is an immutable principle you must understand: God will let you practise in a place where your weaknesses can be worked on, your gifts developed, and where your mistakes won’t affect too many others.

A pilot received word from the control tower saying, ‘You’re cleared for five thousand feet.’ When he got there, he was told to hold for further instructions. Then came the words, ‘You’re cleared for ten thousand feet.’ Gradually the controller took him level by level to thirty-five thousand feet where he was cleared to fly to his destination. That day, God spoke to him saying, ‘I wish you would trust Me like that. Instead, you want to go straight to thirty-five thousand feet in one thrust!’

Try to understand this: God sees the end from the beginning, and He has already mapped out your journey. He knows that if you rise too quickly, there are dangers. You may be in the cockpit—but God is in the control tower! And today He is saying to you, ‘Trust Me and I’ll get you safely to your destination.’ God’s plan for your life can’t be rushed.

When you try to rise too quickly, (1) you make costly and painful mistakes, (2) you adversely affect the lives of those who depend on you, and (3) you end up in a tug-of-war with God, which you lose!