THE DANGER OF MOVING FASTER THAN GOD
DATE: 6th of October 2026
AUTHOR: Evang Ademola Elemo
SERIES: BEWARE OF THE PLAGUE OF HURRY
đź“– SCRIPTURE READING
Exodus 13:21 “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light…”
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
MEDITATION
There is a pace at which God leads.
The children of Israel were not simply told to leave Egypt and figure out the rest themselves. God went before them. He led them. He directed them. He determined their route. This teaches us something powerful: When God is leading you, you do not have to outrun Him. Many people are not necessarily moving in the wrong direction; they are simply moving faster than God’s instruction. And moving faster than God can be just as dangerous as moving in the wrong direction.
SPEED WITHOUT DIRECTION IS DANGEROUS
Imagine driving a vehicle at great speed without knowing the destination. Speed does not compensate for lack of direction. You can arrive quickly at the wrong place. The same is true spiritually. You can build quickly and build the wrong thing. You can enter a relationship quickly and discover later that you never sought God’s wisdom. You can accept an opportunity quickly without considering its long-term consequences.
You can make a financial decision because you are afraid of missing out. You can respond to pressure instead of responding to God. Proverbs 19:2 says: “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.” Haste can cause you to act before understanding.
GOD’S LEADING MAY REQUIRE YOU TO WAIT
One of the clearest examples is found in the journey of Israel.
Exodus 40:36–37 says: “And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.” What a remarkable principle. When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud remained, they remained. They did not say: “God is taking too long.” They did not say: “Everyone else is moving.” They did not say: “We cannot waste another day.” They waited for God’s direction. That is spiritual maturity.
DAVID REFUSED TO FORCE GOD’S TIMING
David had already been anointed king. Yet Saul was still sitting on the throne. David eventually had opportunities to kill Saul. From a human perspective, David could have reasoned: “God promised me the throne. Saul is standing in my way. This must be my opportunity.” But David refused to take the throne through an act God had not authorized.
1 Samuel 24:6 says: “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed…” David understood something:
A God-given destination does not justify a flesh-driven method. The promise was from God.
The timing also belonged to God.
HURRY OFTEN COMES FROM FEAR
Why do people hurry? Sometimes because they are afraid. Afraid someone else will get the opportunity. Afraid they are getting old. Afraid they are falling behind. Afraid the relationship will disappear. Afraid the money will not come again. Afraid they will never have another chance. But fear can push a person into decisions that wisdom would have prevented.
Isaiah 28:16 says: “…he that believeth shall not make haste.” Faith does not mean inactivity.
Faith means trusting God enough not to panic.
KINGDOM TRUTHS ABOUT MOVING AT GOD’S PACE
1. GOD WANTS TO DIRECT YOUR STEPS
Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
God does not merely care about your destination. He cares about the path you take to reach it.
2. HASTE CAN PRODUCE FOOLISH DECISIONS
Proverbs 21:5 “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”
There is a difference between diligence and haste. Diligence plans carefully. Haste reacts impulsively.
3. GOD’S PROMISE DOES NOT GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO FORCE THE PROCESS
1 Samuel 24:6 David had the opportunity to take matters into his own hands but refused.
4. WAITING CAN BE AN ACT OF FAITH
Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.”
Waiting is not necessarily weakness.
Sometimes waiting demonstrates that your confidence is in God rather than in your ability to control circumstances.
5. GOD’S PEACE CAN HELP YOU DISCERN YOUR NEXT STEP
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…”
This does not mean that every difficult decision will feel comfortable.
It means your decisions should not be controlled by panic, pressure, or fear.
🔎 REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Am I currently moving faster than God’s instruction?
What decision am I making because of pressure or fear?
Have I prayed sufficiently about my next step?
Am I trying to achieve God’s purpose through my own timing?
What would it look like for me to wait on God in this season?
PRAYER
Father, teach me to move at Your pace.
Deliver me from every form of unhealthy hurry.
Give me discernment to know when to move and when to remain still.
When I am tempted to act because of fear, give me faith.
When I feel pressured by people, give me confidence in Your direction.
When I see others moving ahead, keep me from comparing my journey with theirs.
I surrender my timeline to You.
I surrender my plans to You.
I surrender my ambitions to You.
Order my steps and keep me from running ahead of Your wisdom.
Let me never use impatience to accomplish what only Your timing can establish. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
ACTION POINT
Before making one major decision today, create a deliberate pause. Pray. Read Scripture. Examine your motives. Then ask:
“Am I doing this because God is leading me, or because I am afraid of what will happen if I wait?” Do not allow urgency to replace discernment.
đź’ˇ SPECIAL INSIGHT
A delayed instruction is safer than a premature action. Abraham was told to leave his country, but he had to follow God’s direction one step at a time. Hebrews 11:8 says: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out… obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Abraham did not have the entire map. He had God’s instruction.
That is often how God leads. He may not reveal the entire journey at once. He gives enough light for the next step. Psalm 119:105 says: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” You do not need tomorrow’s light to obey today’s instruction.
Follow the light God has given you today.