Priscilla Shirer | God Has a Purpose for This Season of Your Life

If you reach Mount Carmel without first passing through Cherith and then Zarephath, you will find yourself trembling with uncertainty, unprepared for the strength and resolve that the moment demands. Hear me clearly: for every one of us who has placed faith in Jesus Christ, Carmel is coming. I want to offer you both encouragement and a challenge.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on discipleship and spiritual growth. Discipleship is essentially about fixing your eyes on Jesus and, through the ups and downs of life, becoming more like Him. This process is the essence of sanctification—the purpose of our journey with Christ. Until we meet Him face to face, our goal is to reflect His image more fully.

As I near my 50th year of life, I’ve found myself contemplating the seasons of spiritual maturity and the people who challenged and shaped me along the way. These transformative moments didn’t just occur during the mountain-top experiences but also in the valleys—times of pain, disappointment, and loneliness. These were the seasons we’d never choose, the ones we prayed to escape. Yet, in hindsight, they were filled with blessings.

In those difficult times, God taught us endurance. He conformed our character to His image, fortified our faith, and stripped away our reliance on human approval. When we were alone, He taught us dependence on Him. It is often through these struggles that the most profound spiritual growth occurs.

Reflecting on 25 years of full-time ministry and even earlier years when I came to know Christ at the age of 8 or 10, I see a pattern of growth. During my teenage years, I faced challenges and distractions, but God was faithful. Through my 20s, 30s, and 40s, He continued to mature me. One biblical figure who exemplifies this journey of growth is Elijah.

Elijah’s life demonstrates a powerful narrative of spiritual maturity. Writing a Bible study on his story gave me fresh insights and a deep appreciation for how God works through different seasons. Many know Elijah for his dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel, declaring God’s truth amid cultural opposition. But Elijah didn’t start there.

In 1 Kings 17, we first meet Elijah. After declaring God’s word to the king, he is sent into isolation at the Brook Cherith. Here, he had nothing to sustain him except God’s supernatural provision. Amid a severe drought, the brook dried up, leaving Elijah utterly dependent on the Lord for daily sustenance.

This wasn’t about public miracles or impressing others. It was about Elijah learning to trust God privately and completely. His ministry began with solitude and dependence—a reminder that spiritual strength is cultivated in quiet reliance on the Lord before it is ever displayed publicly.

As we journey through life, let us embrace the process. The valleys refine us, teaching us to lean on God alone. These seasons prepare us for the Mount Carmel moments when we are called to stand boldly in faith.

Let us be encouraged: God is with us in every stage of growth. Trust Him, whether in Cherith, Zarephath, or Carmel, for He is working all things for His glory and our good.

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