DON'T SKIP THE TRAINING

The other day, I sat in the gym watching our youngest son push through another intense basketball training session. Watching him develop is fun, but it’s not always pretty. It’s sweaty, frustrating, and full of moments where they want to quit. But that’s the whole point of training. It’s about learning, refining, and strengthening, even when uncomfortable.

Because competitive basketball requires playing at a higher level, we’ve invested in additional training. Our son is passionate about basketball, so we’re committed to his development. His incredible coach pushes him hard and refuses to let him settle. If he messes up a drill, there’s no skating past it. He has to go back and do it again. And if that mistake keeps happening, it’s back to the basics.

I see the frustration in his eyes sometimes - the “Come on, I got it! Let me just keep going.” But his coach knows better. He sees what my son can’t - minor corrections today that lead to big wins later.

Watching this play out reminds me so much of how God works in our lives.

About 10 years into our marriage, Chris and I noticed a pattern. God was using our gifts and personalities to shape us into pioneers. Our jobs and opportunities focused on building, not just maintaining. Churches or organizations were hiring us to launch something new, build a team, and develop a structure for new initiatives. And when things felt stable, God would call us to something new.

Looking back, I realize that each assignment was about the work. The real lesson was the process. Just like my son’s training sessions, every season we’ve walked through has had its own set of drills - times of refining, stretching, and growing. And just like my son, there have been plenty of times we’ve thought, “Okay, God, we got it. Can we just move forward now?”

In His patience, God often takes us back to the basics. What matters is obedience in the small steps.

But obedience isn’t always glamorous. We’ve had seasons where staying aligned with shifting leadership visions was a struggle. We’ve had to lead teams that didn’t always agree with our direction. We’ve poured out everything, only to feel like it wasn’t enough. And then there were times when we straight-up missed the mark. We spoke when we should’ve stayed silent. We felt entitled to things because of how hard we worked. We lacked boundaries and ended up depleted.

But through it all, God was coaching, teaching, and strengthening us for the next thing He had in store.

God doesn’t just throw us into our calling unprepared. He trains us for it, builds our endurance, stretches our faith, and ensures we can handle the weight of what’s ahead.

Think about David. Before he was king, he was a shepherd. He wasn’t sitting around doing anything. He was out in the fields, protecting sheep, fighting off lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-37). What seemed like a mundane season was training for the day he’d face Goliath.

Or Joseph. He dreamed of leadership, but was betrayed and enslaved before fulfilling that promise. His journey didn’t make sense then, but every setback set him up for his future (Genesis 37-50).

I’ve learned to love the process, even when it’s hard. In training, we experience God’s power, grace, and redemption. He’s the greatest Coach, always showing us how to move, when to be still, and when to step up.

So, how do we embrace the training? Daily surrender.

I used to put time limits on God’s process. I’d think, “Okay, God, I’ll give this a few months, and then we’ll move on, right?” But I’ve learned that His timing is so much better than mine. Some seasons have lasted years. Others have been quick transitions. And then there are the things I’ve been praying over for over a decade, still trusting that they’ll happen in His perfect timing.

But one thing I do know is that the journey has changed me. I don’t respond the way I used to. I don’t rush ahead to get things done. I pray differently. Instead of asking, “God, how can I fix this?” I now ask, “God, what do You want me to see in this moment?” And that shift has changed how I partner with God in every season.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Your season has not been in vain. The weight you’re carrying now strengthens you for what’s ahead. The obedience you show in the small things prepares you for the big things.

Chris and I are praying over a new opportunity, trusting that God is leading us step by step. Maybe you’re in a similar place, transitioning into something new, waiting for direction, or feeling stretched beyond your comfort zone.

If that’s you, I’d love to pray with you. Please send me a message. Let’s believe God is working, even when we don’t see it yet. The best coaches don’t just push you; they prepare you for the win.

We love watching our boy on the court.