The journey of faith is a journey of becoming. No one is born complete; each of us is a seed, carrying within us the potential for greatness that God has placed inside. Like the mustard seed in Jesus’ parable, we are not born as the finished tree, but as something small, full of promise, destined to grow and mature through the seasons and pressures of life. God knows the fullness of what He has purposed for us, and He places us in environments and situations that will draw out that potential, even when those seasons feel dark or pressing.
Looking at the life of Moses, we see a man born into slavery, yet destined for royalty and deliverance. His journey was not straightforward—he experienced rejection, failure, and exile. Even when he was “grown,” he was not yet ready; maturity in years does not always mean readiness in spirit. Moses’ formation phase, his wilderness season, was a time of hiddenness, pressure, and learning from unexpected sources. He was content to serve in a foreign land, learning from people who did not look or sound like him, and God used these experiences to shape him for his calling.
In our own formation phases, we too are pressed and challenged. The pressure is not to destroy us, but to prepare us to bear the weight of what God wants to do through us. Sometimes, our hearts become hard—like hydrophobic soil that cannot absorb the rain of God’s word and promises. The antidote to a hard heart is gratitude. Thankfulness, even in the midst of pain and disappointment, softens our hearts and allows the seed of God’s word to take root and grow. This is not just a church performance, but a daily posture: “Lord, you are good.” Even when the promise seems delayed, even when life feels like a burial, we are called to praise, to testify, and to trust that God is still working.
The process is not easy—it is a kind of death, a letting go of our own expectations and timelines. But just as Jesus carried His testimony into the grave and rose again, we are invited to carry a testimony of God’s goodness through every season, trusting that resurrection and harvest are coming. As we stay the process, we become not only the seed but also the sower, a blessing to others, an indescribable gift to the world. God is inviting us to trust Him again, to pick up the promises we’ve shelved, and to declare with faith: “It’s turning around for me.”
Key Takeaways
- 1. You Are Not Born Complete—You Are Becoming God has placed within each of us a unique potential, but we are not born as the finished product. Like the mustard seed, our true identity and calling unfold over time, through seasons of growth, challenge, and transformation. Embracing the process means accepting that God is not done with us yet, and that every phase—no matter how hidden or difficult—is part of His design to bring forth what He has purposed. [01:30]
- 2. Formation Requires Submission to Pressure and Covering The formation phase is often marked by darkness, pressure, and hiddenness. Just as a seed must be buried and pressed by the soil to grow, we must allow ourselves to be shaped by God’s hand, coming under His covering and authority. Acting outside of God’s timing or authority, as Moses did initially, leads to frustration and delay; true readiness comes from enduring the process and trusting God’s preparation. [10:10]
- 3. God’s Training Often Comes Through Unexpected People and Places Moses learned from Egyptians and Midianites—people outside his own culture and comfort zone. In our wilderness seasons, God may use unfamiliar voices, cultures, or experiences to teach us and expand our understanding of His vastness. We must discern the Spirit, not just the form, and be willing to learn from those who are different, recognizing that God’s expression is broader than our traditions. [16:39]
- 4. A Hard Heart Blocks the Flow of God’s Promises—Gratitude Softens the Soil When our hearts become hardened by disappointment, pain, or the cares of life, we become like hydrophobic soil, unable to absorb the rain of God’s word and presence. The antidote is a lifestyle of thankfulness—praising God not just in public, but in private, in the midst of pain, and before the breakthrough comes. Gratitude is a weapon of warfare that breaks up the stony ground and prepares us to receive and bear fruit. [29:25]
- 5. The Process Is a Kind of Death, but Resurrection and Harvest Await The formation phase is not to be minimized—it is a real dying to self, to expectations, and to comfort. Yet, as with Jesus, the grave is not the end. If we will testify to God’s goodness even in the darkness, we will rise again, transformed and fruitful. Staying the process means we become both the seed and the sower, an indescribable gift to others, and a living testimony to the faithfulness of God. [45:59]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:58] - The Seed and the Process of Becoming
- [01:30] - The Parable of the Mustard Seed
- [03:59] - Moses: Potential Hidden in Adversity
- [04:54] - Understanding the Formation Phase
- [06:09] - Moses’ Early Actions and Authority
- [10:10] - The Importance of Covering and Submission
- [12:12] - Recognizing Clues to Your Calling
- [13:52] - The Wilderness Season and Contentment
- [16:39] - Learning from Unexpected Sources
- [20:24] - Embracing Diversity in God’s Kingdom
- [22:17] - Serving Another’s Vision Faithfully
- [23:38] - Responding to Pressure and Hardness
- [25:03] - Hydrophobic Soil and Hard Hearts
- [29:25] - The Power of Gratitude in Hard Times
- [33:53] - Gratitude as Spiritual Warfare
- [39:39] - Contending for the Faith Through Faithfulness
- [45:59] - The Death and Resurrection of the Formation Phase
- [48:31] - Becoming a Praiser in Every Season
- [53:29] - Prayers of Thanksgiving and Declaration
- [56:27] - Laying Down Heaviness for Joy
- [59:49] - Prophesying and Declaring God’s Promises
- [61:31] - It’s Turning Around for Me
