Are You Ready?

The things you are overcoming today are the things God is using to strength you for the real battles of the future.
God is a wise economist and He doesn't waste anything,  
Nothing.
 Even my worst experiences can become the springboard to avoid disaster in the future. How many times do you have to out your hand in the fire before learning you are going to get burned?
It's the same with relationships, business ventures (which include relationships, too) and other decisions. When you fail, you have an opportunity to learn what not to do.
When you succeed, you know what to repeat.
You may feel like God has put you on a shelf and has forgotten you.
Do you remember David?
The prophet comes to his father's house to anoint a new king.
They offered a sacrifice and seven of the brothers came and each time Samuel said, "That's not the one."
Then he turns to Jesse and says, "Are these all of your sons?"
Jesse had to admit he another, but he was just a shepherd boy. (In other words, he wasn't all that much in men's eyes.")
Samuel says, " Go get him. We will not sit down until you bring him here."
So they bring him straight from the fields, unshowered and smelling like sheep. The Lord spoke to Samuel and said, "This is the one,"

¹⁰ Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.
¹¹ And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
¹² And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Do you understand that the Lord did not require him to shower, shave and put on his finest robe?
That is the way it is going to be.
The things David did unnoticed, alone in a field, were the things that ultimately led him to be anointed king.  He killed the lion and the bear. He survived cold, wet nights with no creature comforts. He was separated from family and friends for long periods of time, but he used this time to develop his relationship with the Lord. He worshiped the Lord. He readied himself when no one was watching.