Embrace the Process: Where is God Leading You?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ”
The message below is the speech I gave at a recent women’s retreat, and I felt led to pass it along to my readers here…
Have you ever had a situation in your life when you were so confident you heard God?
He gave you a vision or a desire for something. You take a step in faith, and it's as if He told you, “This is the way, walk in it.” You headed down the road you felt called, and along the way, things didn’t go as you had planned. You started to feel lost, and thought, “Did I miss understand? I thought this was way, but it looks and feels different. It feels hard. It feels uncomfortable.” Maybe you thought this process was going to be more glamorous!
Has this ever happened to you?
Recently, I was talking to a friend, voicing my frustration over an investment that didn’t go as planned. It was something I pursued for my business, and I had felt I was walking in God’s plan. I expected it to produce fruit—monetary fruit—but instead, it felt like all it produced was a wasted year and a lot of resources. I felt like I’d failed.
I asked my friend, “Did I mishear God? Was I doing this all out of my own will? Was it all in vain?”
She paused for a moment and then asked, “What did you learn from it?”
I thought for a second and replied, “I learned to never do business with people whose values don’t align with mine—no exceptions.”
She nodded. “And how valuable is that lesson to your business moving forward?”
I sighed. “It’s invaluable.”
Kari speaking at the First St. Paul’s Women’s Retreat in Burlington, Colorado.
I didn’t like it, but she had a point. The investment didn’t produce the fruit I had envisioned, but it did produce something just as important—a lesson that would serve me for years to come. The process I went through with that investment was important.
So often, when God gives us a calling, we fixate on the destination, discounting the daily acts of obedience required along the way. The process. We have a vision in our mind of how things should unfold. The problem is, God isn’t just about the end result—He’s about the journey. And the journey is what shapes us.
We need to embrace the process.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never liked the phrase, “It’s all part of the process.” But the truth is, life is a refining process. Growth happens in the waiting, in the struggle, in the seemingly insignificant moments. The process is where God molds us, strengthens us, and prepares us for what’s next.
Jeremiah 18:4 reminds us: "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
Where is God Leading You?
What process is God leading you through right now?
Are you in a season of waiting? Does the work you’re doing feel insignificant? Or maybe you’re like me—questioning, Did I miss it? Am I on the wrong path? Did I hear God wrong?
Embrace the process.
I want to walk you through an exercise. If you’ve ever worked with me at Creekside Capital, this format may feel familiar—it’s the same framework I use for strategic planning with my clients. [See worksheet here]
First, clear your mind for a moment.
Now, take stock of your thoughts. What are you spending the most time thinking about? When I did this exercise for myself, I realized there weren’t just one or two things on my mind—there were three major themes I kept circling back to.
For today, I want you to focus on one thing. What is one thing God has been placing on your heart? What is one thing He has been leading you through? With that in mind, let’s begin [complete worksheet].
Closing - The Power of Obedience in the Small Things
You cannot expect God to move in big ways if you’re not willing to be obedient in the small things.
What may feel insignificant today, or maybe even feel like failure today could actually be divine preparation.
If you’re feeling discouraged because your destination seems out of reach, take heart—you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. God is working in ways you cannot yet see. He is preparing you for something greater than you can imagine.
Remember, success isn’t just about reaching a goal—it’s about becoming the person God created you to be.
The process may not be easy. But allowing God to use you as a vessel is an act of obedience and love. Don’t discount the struggle; God knows exactly what He’s doing. Stay faithful. Don’t lose hope. Keep showing up, and most importantly—embrace the process.
I’d like to close with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for walking with us through every part of our journey—the victories, the struggles, and the moments that don’t make sense. Help us to embrace the process, trusting that You are working all things together for good. Strengthen our faith, give us clarity, and remind us that even small steps of obedience are part of Your greater plan. May we leave here encouraged, knowing that we are exactly where we are meant to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“If it were easy, everyone would do it. ”
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