Leading at the Father’s Pace

I met Carlos and Jose several years ago along the well-worn trails of the George Deukmejian Wilderness Park, tucked into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. They were regulars. So was I.

Whenever our paths crossed, I was greeted with big smiles—the kind that rise up from generous hearts—and warm words of welcome. And without fail, every encounter pulled me into a quiet moment of reflection.

Carlos, the father—whom I’d guess to be in his 80s—walks at a very slow pace. Painfully slow. But what consistently stopped me in my tracks (and convicted me more than a little) was watching Jose, his son, willingly and patiently adjusting his stride to walk with his father.

Not ahead of him.
Not rushing him.
Not leaving him behind.

It’s a beautiful picture.
And the point is unmistakable.

One of the quintessential challenges of life—and leadership—is learning to keep pace with our heavenly Father. To move in step with Him.

Mark it down.
Post it on the bathroom mirror.

But here’s the problem. A big one. Maybe you can relate.

I happen to like my pace.
I prefer my pace.
I want my pace.

Candidly, that’s what makes the Scriptures so subtly disruptive.

Genesis doesn’t celebrate the speed of Enoch or the efficiency of Noah.
It simply says they walked with God (Genesis 5:24; 6:9).

In a chaotic, hurried, distracted world, their faithfulness was expressed not through acceleration—but through alignment.

Which reminds me that when I choose my pace, I choose poorly.

Because when I choose my pace, I choose to walk alone.
And that’s never a good call.

Why is it that God’s pace—God’s timing—feels so much slower than mine?

I don’t have it all figured out. But here’s what I have figured out: when it comes to God’s pace, if you linger long enough, you start bumping into one word again and again.

Wait.

Sample the Psalms. This four-letter word shows up with (annoying) regularity:

• Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14).

• Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7).

• Wait for the Lord and keep His way (Psalm 37:34).

• I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1).

• For God alone my soul waits in silence (Psalm 62:5).

• I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope (Psalm 130:5).

The message is undeniable. God’s time economy is well-documented. There’s not much room for debate.

Years ago, Japanese theologian Kosuke Koyama captured this beautifully in his book Three Mile An Hour God. He observed that God’s speed matches the speed of human walking.

Slow.
Intentional.
Relational.
Incarnational.

As you run the game film of your life and leadership, where might God be inviting you to adjust your pace?

What decisions are you powering through—pushing through—that actually require more prayer, more counsel, more listening?

Perhaps God has you seated for a season in His “waiting room.”
Will you trust that this, too, is His timeline for this chapter of your life?

Because when you wait on the Lord—when you walk His pace—you choose well.

You choose to walk the trails of life with your Father.
Enjoying His presence.
Receiving His guidance.
Benefiting from His wisdom.

And yes…
Arriving right on time.

Chuck Olson
Founder | Executive Director
Lead With Your Life