Pastor Dolapo Lawal has encouraged believers not to automatically interpret every difficult season as delay or spiritual attack.
Drawing from Deuteronomy 8, he described what he called a “wilderness phase,” a period of testing and preparation on the journey toward what God has promised.
“There is something called the wilderness phase,” he said. “The wilderness is your process into the promised land.”
Lawal said believers should be careful about how they respond during such seasons, arguing that complaining can cause them to miss the lessons the process is meant to teach.
He also said God’s tests may sometimes come unexpectedly.
“Sometimes you are writing a test and you don’t even know it,” he said.
Using biblical examples, Lawal explained that some experiences may serve as preparation for larger tests that come later.
He added that a wilderness season should not always be confused with abandonment.
According to him, the Israelites experienced difficulty in the wilderness, but God still provided manna for them.
“Don’t mistake it for delay,” he said.
His message was simple: some difficult seasons are not the end of the journey. They may be part of the preparation for what comes next.