Today I was reading over Jesus’ ministry (it’s amazing how any study in scripture leads you back to Jesus) and something caught my eye. Jesus is waiting for 30 years to fulfill the will of the Father: His ministry, death, and resurrection. During which time “The child grew and waxed strong in the Spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:40) Jesus wasn’t twiddling His thumbs for 30 years. He was growing. Side note: the time wasn’t wasted, it was invested! Then when His ministry begins with His baptism. “FINALLY, LETS GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.” Right? Wrong. He is immediately led into the wilderness. (Luke 4:1-2) What was awaiting Him there? Scripture tells us hunger and the tempting of His resolve. While there are a million lessons the believer can take from this passage, the one that stood out to me was this: our God is the God of excellence. “…He does all things well…” (Mark 7:37) And sometimes that means your faith will “…be tried with fire…” (1st Peter 1:7) It also means God’s not in a hurry. God’s not in a hurry. It’s no mistake that after His waiting for the 30 year mark, and His obedience in being baptized (Matthew 3:15) He was submitted to even further testing in the wilderness JUST before His ministry really kicked off. If God has entrusted you with a call in His body, expect your resolve to be tested, that’s inescapable. But I want to encourage you; it’s not for nothing!! “FAITHFUL is He who calleth you and also will do it.” (1st Thessalonians 5:24) This trying of your faith is working! (James 1:3-4) Here’s what I’m saying: can you imagine if Jesus had said “The Father’s just never gonna use me! Forget it, I’m tired of waiting for Him! I’ll go be a king somewhere else!” at the age of 29? JUST before the Father began a ministry that permanently altered the universe and everything in it? “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1st John 2:6) and sometimes that means waiting on the Father. There’s ALWAYS a reason for the wilderness. God has not forgotten. He will do what He’s said He will do. Just trust Him.