Why did Jesus take His time before the cross?
Why did Jesus take His time before the cross?
Author: Dr. Angela D. Thomas
There is a kind of frustration that comes when you know God has called you to something, but your life does not seem to be moving at the pace you expected. You can see glimpses of purpose, feel the weight of what God has spoken, and still find yourself in what feels like a long, slow process.
You may wonder why it is taking so long. Why the preparation feels stretched out. Why doors are not opening as quickly as you thought they would. At times, it can feel like you are ready, but your life has not caught up.
That tension often leads to a deeper question. If God already knows the outcome, why doesn’t He move faster?
Questions Women Often Ask About This
Many women quietly wrestle with questions like these:
• Why does it feel like God is taking so long in my life?
• Am I behind in my purpose?
• What is God doing while I am waiting?
• How do I stay patient in the process?
• Does preparation really matter if God already knows the outcome?
These questions are not a sign of failure. They are often a sign that something deeper is being developed.
In Short
Jesus did not rush to the cross because purpose requires preparation, not just arrival. The life He lived before the cross made the cross meaningful, understood, and effective.
In the same way, the timing in your life is not a delay. It is preparation for what you are being called to carry.
What the Bible Says About This
According to the Bible, Jesus’ purpose was not limited to the moment of the cross. His assignment included everything that led up to it.
The Bible teaches that purpose unfolds through process, not just through a single defining moment. Before the cross, Jesus spent years teaching, demonstrating, and building belief in those who would carry the message forward.
Scripture shows us that Jesus did not arrive at the cross unprepared. He taught in places like Matthew 5 and 6, demonstrated compassion through encounters with people who were overlooked, and called disciples to follow Him long before His final moments. Each of these actions was part of the assignment.
If Jesus had gone straight to the cross without that preparation, people would not have understood who He was or what His sacrifice meant. His life gave context to His death.
Let's Break This Down
One of the most important truths to understand is that purpose is not just about what happens at the end. It is about everything that must be built before that moment arrives.
Jesus could not skip the three years of ministry. He had to teach so people would understand. He had to demonstrate so people would believe. He had to build relationships so others could carry the message forward. Without that work, the cross would have lacked impact.
This reframes how we often think about our own lives. Many women are waiting for a defining moment, but God is focused on building what is necessary before that moment happens.
There is a principle in Scripture that your gift will make room for you. However, that does not mean your gift replaces preparation. It means what God placed in you will create opportunity, but you still need the roots to sustain what comes with it.
This is where patience becomes necessary. Growth that lasts requires time. Influence that holds requires depth. Purpose that impacts others requires preparation.
The process is not separate from purpose. It is part of it.
What this Means for Your Life
If you feel like your life is moving slower than expected, it is important to shift how you interpret that season.
Instead of seeing it as delay, begin to see it as development. Ask yourself what is being built right now. What is God strengthening in you? What is He teaching you that you will need later?
There may be areas where you need to release frustration. Frustration often comes from comparing where you are to where you think you should be. However, when you compare your timeline to your expectations instead of God’s process, you will always feel behind.
There may also be areas where you need to embrace responsibility. Preparation requires participation. It may look like showing up consistently, developing discipline, or continuing to do what God has already placed in front of you, even when it feels small.
This is also a moment to trust that God is intentional. Nothing about Jesus’ life was rushed or random. Every step was orchestrated.
Purpose is not something you arrive at suddenly. It is something you grow into.
Reflection Question
Where in your life are you feeling frustrated with the timing, and what might God be building in you during this season?
Continue with The Awesome 3 Series
This article begins The Awesome 3 series, where we walk through what it really takes to live out God’s purpose by looking at the life of Jesus during the final days leading to the cross.
In this series, we explore three realities that shape every believer’s journey: understanding the assignment, enduring the wait and the weight, and following God’s instructions.
Want to Go Deeper?
This teaching comes from the SheShed community, where women gather to learn the Word of God in a way that is clear, practical, and life changing.
Inside the community, we focus on helping women get the tools they need to shed the mess they do not need and build God’s Kingdom on purpose.
If you want more biblical teaching like this, you are welcome to Join Us FREE!
FIRST STEPS A Guide for New Believers
SHIFT IT! Seven Shifts to Prepare Your Heart for What God is Building Next
FLESH DENIED! A 21 Day Biblical Fast To Strengthen the Spirit and Subdue the Flesh
Grow With the SheShed Community
Women grow deeper in faith when they walk the journey together.
Inside the SheShed Community you will find:
Bible teaching that meets real life
Tools to help you shed what no longer serves you
A community walking toward freedom and purpose
Teaching the Word of God in an easy-to-understand way so women can get the tools they need, to shed the mess they don’t, to build God’s Kingdom on purpose.
Stay Connected
