Set Apart for His Glory
Not so long ago, I found myself in a frustrating situation. It felt like I had to do everything on my own, especially in business. I reached out to a friend for help, but he either wasn’t available or wasn’t helpful at all. My frustration quickly turned into arrogance—I was upset that he didn’t help me, even though he had no obligation to do so. That wasn’t fair of me. I have a lot of drive and ambition, but when I get stressed, I tend to put pressure on others, expecting them to match my intensity. In my mind, I had convinced myself that if I succeeded—if I landed the project I was working on—it would also benefit those around me by giving them opportunities. But looking back, I now realize that this was an arrogant mindset.
A Shift in Perspective
A few days later, as I was driving, it hit me: If people helped me with something like pricing for a tender, they could take the credit. They could say that I got the tender because of their efforts. And in that moment, I felt a deep peace settle over me. I realized that the reason God has me in this season of “aloneness” is so that when success comes, no one will be able to take the credit—only God. Everything must point back to His glory.
I have always known that I was set apart (Numbers 16:9), but I hadn’t fully grasped that this calling applied to every area of my life. Realizing that this season might be for the sole purpose of glorifying God changed my perspective. It made me stop depending on people for answers and help, and instead, turn fully to God. Of course, that sounds easier than it actually is, but with a push from the Lord, I took a step back. I paused everything. I knew that my ambitions and drive had clouded my vision, making me so focused that I was missing the bigger picture. So, I pushed pause to create space—space to hear, to realign, and to receive a refreshed vision.
Learning the Hard Lessons
Another humbling realization was that not everyone shares my level of ambition and drive, and I shouldn’t expect them to. I had unknowingly been pushing others to match my intensity, which wasn’t fair to them. In doing so, I had also taken some relationships for granted, potentially putting them at risk. That was never my intention, but it was a wake-up call.
Through this experience, God reminded me of a fundamental truth: Everything that happens is for His glory. Every season we go through has a purpose, even when we don’t understand it at the time. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” During this time, I was also on a parallel journey of discovering my identity in Him. I am set apart for His glory—from the very beginning (Psalm 4:3).
Surrendering Again
After this realization, I surrendered everything all over again. I made a decision: I will not move until God tells me to move. No more chasing after my dreams and ambitions in my own strength. I had submitted my plans to God before, but like many of us, I got caught up in my own little world and lost sight of that submission. So, I had to realign. And I did that by pausing—by giving myself the time and space to come back to the feet of Jesus.
Encouragement for Those in a Similar Season
If you’re in a season of feeling alone, remember this: You are never truly alone. It might feel that way in the physical, but God promises that He will never leave or forsake us. He sees everything, even the struggles we don’t vocalize. And this season? It’s just that—a season. It is not your lifetime. Learn the lessons you need to learn and move forward. Don’t prolong your season by resisting what God is trying to teach you.
The Bigger Spiritual Lesson
Looking back, I see that God was protecting me from something that could have harmed me—whether that was pride, misplaced dependence, or even strained relationships. If something is putting everything else in your life at risk, including your relationships, then it’s likely not from God. God is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). Sometimes, He allows things to fall apart so we can realize they weren’t right for us in the first place. Or, in my case, so that I could see that I wasn’t spiritually mature enough to handle them yet.
So now, I wait. I wait for His timing, His instruction, and His provision. And when it comes, I will know—without a doubt—that it was all for His glory.
Connect with Us
Follow Us
Prayer Requests
Should you require prayer, kindly send your prayer request to prayers@hopeandhealing.co.za
Testimonies
Should you want to share a testimony, kindly send your testimony to testimonies@hopeandhealing.co.za
General Enquiries
For any general enquiries, kindly send an email to info@hopeandhealing.co.za