I’ve recently been named Assistant Pastor to my uncle/pastor whose leadership I’ve been under for ten years. I’m looking forward to what God has for me but I don’t take this role lightly and this is why I’ve been patiently serving as his understudy. See, I wouldn’t dare rush what God has for me, before it was meant for me. And I know the only way I can truly handle this new position is by staying where God placed me, in my old position. And the studying I had to do, started long before I accepted my call to ministry. God sent me to my uncle’s church because it was there, the seed growing within me, would be cultivated. I had no idea it was preaching but I knew God sent me to his leadership in order for me to grow and I couldn’t rush the process because then I’d risk birthing something, prematurely, that wouldn’t survive. I knew that if I hurried this process, it would only hurt me and those I tried to serve. This is why I learned to shut up and listen. And this is also why, I have no problem sitting by his side, it is there I learn. I have no problem gleaning from his harvest, for it is there I eat. I have no issues with drinking from the overflow of his cup, it teaches me not to selfish with mine. I have no problem being the student because it is in this role, I learn how to be patient when it’s my turn to teach.
Why am I sharing this? Because somebody is agitated where you are. You can’t figure out why God hasn’t moved you yet or why every application you put in, for the promotion, gets denied. You can’t understand why your change hasn’t happened yet. Or why you can’t get elevated. But how have you been as the understudy? Are you learning or do you think you know it all? Are you antsy about getting the promotion or are you simply learning until it’s your time? I’m only asking because I’ve found that if you suck at being an understudy, you’ll suck more at being the replacement. Yes, I know you have more years of experience but that doesn’t make you leadership material. I know you think you know it all but that doesn’t mean you’re ready for the role. Yes, I know you rock out as being associate minister but are you learning what it takes to be pastor? In the bible, before Elisha could effectively handle the mantle of Elijah, he had to learn. There was no way Elisha could carry the fullness of Elijah’s mantle without first learning how heavy it was. For the bible says in 1 Kings 19:21, “…Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.” Elisha didn’t set out to take over Elijah’s prophetic garment, right away, but he studied him until his time came. And for you beloved, stop rushing to lead when you’ve yet to master following. Ask yourself the question … Am I being an understudy or am I under study? In other words, am I lacking in areas I should be learning.
Lakisha, the Author 
Amen!! Amen!!