Stewarding God’s Gifts While Waiting on His Timing: Walking in Faith and Preparation

The Bible offers timeless lessons about living in alignment with God’s will, blending history with moral and eternal truths that reflect His thoughts, intents, image, and ways. One such lesson is the call to steward the gifts and opportunities God provides while waiting patiently for Him to orchestrate circumstances for His purposes. Often, we yearn for God to open doors, yet we neglect preparation, or we prepare but grow anxious, unaware that God is aligning events behind the scenes.

This principle shines through in stories like Esther, Joseph, David, Moses, Elisha, and Daniel, where faithful stewardship and readiness paved the way for divine elevation. As Jesus asks in Luke 18:8:

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

This challenges us to be diligent in whatever little we are doing and prepare ourselves by being devoted to the word of God, while awaiting God’s perfect timing.

1. Mordecai’s Steadfastness in Esther

In Esther 6:1–3, King Ahasuerus could not sleep and commanded the book of records to be read. There, Mordecai’s earlier act of exposing a plot against the king (Esther 2:21–23) was revealed. Had Mordecai not diligently stewarded his role as gatekeeper, there would have been no deed to remember. Although God would save the Jews through Esther and the fast of the people (Esther 4:16), Mordecai’s faithful action positioned him for honor, eventually being made second-in-command (Esther 8:2).

Reflection: Doing our part, even when unseen, positions us for God’s use when His timing is perfect.

2. Joseph: Stewardship Through Prosperity and Prison

Joseph, in Genesis 37:5–11, had a gift of interpreting dreams. Yet, he diligently diligently worked in every task he was given, whether in Potiphar’s house or even in the prison; he was also focused on God in that he refused to sin with his master’s wife when she pressured him to sleep with her. He was a great steward in Potiphar’s house, where Scripture says:

“And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.” — Genesis 39:4

Because Joseph acted faithfully, Potiphar placed him in charge of the household. Later, after being falsely accused, he was imprisoned, yet again he stewarded his responsibilities:

“But the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.” — Genesis 39:22

His stewardship in both prosperity and lack mirrored Pharaoh’s vision: seven years of plenty in Potiphar’s house and seven years of famine while in prison (Genesis 41:29–30). God’s gifts, even in difficult circumstances, are preparation for His orchestration.

3. David: Shepherd, Warrior, and Faithful Servant

David’s early life as a shepherd prepared him to shepherd Israel. Scripture recounts his courage:

“And David said to Saul, ‘Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?… Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.’” — 1 Samuel 17:26, 36

Killing the lion with his hands was prophetic preparation for the wars he would fight as king, while killing the bear foreshadowed recurring challenges throughout his reign. His fellowship with God strengthened him to confront Goliath.

The book of Psalms recounts David saying: “Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” Psalm 144:1

Moreover, Scripture celebrates David’s mighty men, such as Eleazar:

“And Eleazar the son of Dodo… smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and it clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.” — 2 Samuel 23:9–10

Faith, courage, and preparation positioned David and his men to execute God’s purposes.

4. Moses: Forty Years of Preparation

Moses fled Egypt at forty (Exodus 2:15) and tended his father-in-law Jethro’s flock in Midian for forty years (Exodus 3:1), a period of preparation. Scripture says:

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” — Exodus 3:1

At age eighty, he encountered God in the burning bush, receiving his divine assignment to lead Israel:

“And the LORD said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people… Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.’” — Exodus 3:7–10

The forty years tending sheep mirrored the forty years he would shepherd Israel through trials in the wilderness. The seemingly ordinary work prepared Moses for extraordinary leadership.

5. Elisha and the Double Portion

In 2 Kings 2:9–12, Elijah, about to be taken to heaven in a chariot, asked Elisha what he desired. Elisha requested a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit. Elijah replied:

“Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” — 2 Kings 2:10

Elisha’s close relationship with God and preparation enabled him to step fully into the calling God had for him.

Elisha was only able to receive the double portion of Elijah’s anointing because he had a relationship with God that had given him the ability to see. If he didn’t have this relationship and the ability to see Elijah when he was being fought up, he would have been LoI the other sons of the prophets who only knew Elijah was to be taken, but couldn’t see it and even tried to convince Elisha that God might have cast Elijah into some dish in the mountains.

15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not? 2 Kings 2:15-18 (KJV)

6. Daniel: Faithfulness in Foreign Lands

Daniel stewarded his relationship with God and was diligent in his duties to the king in Babylon despite exile:

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat… And God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom.” — Daniel 1:8, 17

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

His obedience positioned him for prominence, making him serve under four kings.

“And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus.” — Daniel 2:48

Faithful stewardship prepares us, regardless of location or circumstance.

7. God’s Call to Readiness

Preparation is essential for stepping into God’s orchestration. Scripture commands:

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” — Ephesians 6:15

Just as a soldier must have shoes ready to march, our hearts, minds, and actions must be prepared. God is doing His part; we must faithfully steward gifts, prepare diligently, and position ourselves to enter His orchestration.

Conclusion

God entrusts each of us with gifts. Faithfulness and action while waiting for His timing is essential, regardless of how obscure the gift might appear. What you see in the gift is often not the destination, but the character and preparation needed. Do not act like the man in the parable who refused to steward his gifts.

The parable of the talents is in Matthew 25:14-30 (KJV). A master gives three servants talents (money): five, two, and one. The first two double their talents and are praised: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (vv. 21, 23). The servant with one talent, out of fear, buries it and returns it unused (vv. 24-25). The master calls him “wicked and slothful” (v. 26), takes his talent, and gives it to the servant with ten (v. 28). The unfaithful servant is cast into “outer darkness” (v. 30). The parable teaches faithful stewardship of God-given gifts, with loss and judgment for inaction.

The examples of Mordecai, Joseph, David, Moses, Elisha, and Daniel show that God orchestrates circumstances, but we must faithfully steward gifts, prepare, and remain steadfast in faith. Those who are ready will step into God’s orchestra with confidence, reflecting His eternal ways.