Waiting is one of the hardest seasons God calls us into — because waiting often feels like nothing is happening. You prayed, you worked, you believed, you kept showing up, and yet the doors stayed shut. But Elder David Totten reminds us through the life of Caleb in Joshua 14:6–14 that waiting is not wasted. It is the process where God strengthens us, shapes us, and positions us to receive the promise at the right time.

Caleb was 40 years old when Moses promised him an inheritance for following God wholeheartedly, yet he had to wait 45 years before stepping into it. At 85 years old, Caleb declared with bold faith, “Give me this mountain!” His testimony proves that waiting doesn’t weaken us — it preserves us for the very moment when God’s promise comes due.

Key Points for Listeners:

1. Waiting Is Not Wasted

• Waiting is not idleness, laziness, or punishment. It’s active faith.
• Isaiah 40:31 – Waiting renews strength, it doesn’t deplete it.
• Like a seed in the soil, unseen growth is happening in your waiting season.

2. Lessons from the Seed

• Hidden Work (Mark 4:26–29): God works where eyes can’t see.
• Covering (Psalm 92:13): God protects you until it’s your time.
• Food Inside (Matt. 4:4): God’s Word sustains you when nothing else can.
• Embryo (Jer. 1:5): Your purpose is already planted inside you.
• Breaking Open (John 12:24): Sometimes waiting feels like loss, but it leads to new life.
• Soil’s Job (Gal. 6:9): Growth can’t be rushed; our job is to trust and not faint.
• Harvest (Isa. 55:10–11): What God plants will come to pass.

3. Caleb as an Example of Faithful Waiting

• From the Tribe of Judah (Num. 13:6): Rooted in praise. Surround yourself with the right tribe.
• Not the Likely Pick (Josh. 14:6): Caleb was a Kenizzite, yet chosen. God uses the unexpected.
• A Different Spirit (Num. 14:24): Caleb saw victory where others saw giants.
• Surviving the Wilderness: Sometimes waiting has nothing to do with your mistake—it’s about God’s timing.
• Still Strong at 85 (Josh. 14:11): Waiting preserved Caleb’s strength.
• The Bold Request (Josh. 14:12): Caleb asked for the mountain with giants, trusting God for victory.

Takeaway:

Waiting is not a sign of God’s absence—it’s proof of His preparation. Just like Caleb, your waiting season is preparing you for your winning season. The promise is still yours, no matter how much time has passed. But when your moment comes, don’t shrink back—rise up in faith and declare, “Lord, give me my mountain!”

👉 Reflection Questions for Listeners:

1. How am I viewing my waiting season—wasted time or preparation?
2. Am I surrounding myself with the right “tribe” that encourages faith?
3. What seed has God planted in me that is being prepared in the unseen?
4. Am I ready to boldly ask God for the mountain He promised me?

In this message, Overseer Mary Annette Walker reminds us that God has called His people to be vessels of honor, prepared for His use at any time and in any way He chooses. Using Paul’s imagery in 2 Timothy 2:20-21, we are shown that the church contains all types of vessels—gold, silver, wood, and clay—representing those who walk in truth and those who stray from it. Yet, as verse 19 reminds us, God’s solid foundation stands firm, and nothing catches Him off guard.

The challenge is clear: when others bring false teaching, negative thinking, or distractions into the church, will we stand firm in the truth, or will we move aside and let them take the space God has given us? Spiritually, we cannot afford to give ground. God knows every vessel—those of honor, dishonor, and those who are simply struggling. Our responsibility is to love, encourage, and help each other mature into who God has called us to be.

Key Points for Listeners:

1. Stand Firm in Truth

• Don’t let others bring in false doctrines or ungodly thinking and replace the truth you already know.
• God is not looking at just who we were, but where we are going.
• Everyone who comes to church may not stay—but make sure you remain in place.

2. Vessels for the Master’s Use

• God uses vessels in different ways for His purpose. Some are honorable, some are dishonorable, but all can be shaped by His hand.
• Jeremiah 18 – Just as the potter reshaped the clay, God can remake us when we are broken.
• A vessel “meet” means useful, serviceable, and prepared for God’s purpose.

3. Preparation Through Holiness

• Scripture reminds us: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Without holiness, no man will see the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 – We must cleanse ourselves from sinful behaviors, foolish arguments, and worldly habits.
• Holiness is not optional—it is the standard for those who want to be used by God.

4. Remove Excuses—Live for God

• Too often, we hinder ourselves by focusing on what we “can’t do.” But God has given us everything we need to serve Him.
• No more excuses—make time for what matters. If you can make time for what you want, you can make time for God.
• Like the song says: “I want to live so God can use me, anytime and anywhere.”

5. Be Sensitive to God’s Voice

• John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice.”
• We must remain close enough to hear Him, obey Him, and respond when He calls.
• Sometimes we try to stay covered under our “spiritual umbrella,” but God has a way of interrupting us so His Spirit can still touch us.

Takeaway:

God is calling us to be vessels of honor, sanctified and ready for His use. That means standing firm in truth, pursuing holiness, removing excuses, and being open for God to use us anytime and anywhere. Don’t wait for a convenient season—live now in such a way that the Master can use you for His glory and His plan.

👉 Reflection Questions for Listeners:

1. Am I living in a way that makes me useful for God’s purpose?
2. What areas of my life need cleansing so I can be a vessel of honor?
3. Do I allow false ideas or distractions to move me out of the space God gave me?
4. Am I available to be used by God anytime, anywhere?