The Hidden Pastor – Kneel Ministries

When God Keeps You Hidden

Scripture:
He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:22 (NIV)

I’ve always had this sense that God was doing something in the shadows, quietly shaping me, refining me, setting things in place before revealing the why.

I’m not talking about being overlooked or dismissed. I’m talking about being hidden… by God. Protected. Set aside. Not because I’m unqualified, but because He’s preparing me for something deeper.

I’ve come to believe that hidden seasons aren’t punishment… they’re preparation.

Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading Israel. David was anointed king but went back to the field. Even Jesus didn’t begin His public ministry until age 30. There’s something sacred about being hidden, something holy about being developed in the dark.

We live in a world that values visibility and affirmation, but God values faithfulness in private. He sees the prayers no one hears, the obedience no one applauds, the tears that never make it into posts or journals. He sees… and He’s not in a hurry.

I used to want breakthrough. Now I want obedience.

I used to want recognition. Now I want roots.

Because when the season shifts and the curtain lifts, I don’t want to just have a message. I want to be the kind of person who can carry it well.

Maybe that’s where you are too. Maybe you’ve been faithful in the quiet places, and you’re wondering if God even notices. He does. And in His time, He will bring to light what’s been growing in secret.

Stay hidden if that’s where He has you. That’s not the end of your story. That’s the foundation.

Bible Promise:
For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
Proverbs 5:21 (NLT)

Reflection Questions:

What have you learned about yourself or about God in hidden seasons?
What would it look like to lean into preparation instead of striving for promotion?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the seasons when You’ve hidden me… not to punish me, but to protect me and prepare me. Teach me to value obedience over applause, roots over recognition, and preparation over promotion. I trust Your timing and Your process. Make me ready to carry what You’ve called me to, but keep me grounded in You. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Where Did the Time Go?

Scripture:
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

I blinked… and another month flew by.

Sometimes I wonder where all the time goes. Not in a lazy, “Oops I forgot to write” kind of way, but in that deeper, soul-level way that makes you sit still and ask:

Am I spending my time on what matters most?

Life is full right now. Parenting. Ministry. Marriage. Work. Bills. Ballgames. Church events. Texts I haven’t answered. People I haven’t checked on. Prayers I keep putting off till tomorrow. And somewhere in all of it… the days just slip away.

But God doesn’t waste time, even when we do.
And He’s not asking us to do more. He’s asking us to be more; more present, more faithful, more intentional with what He’s already placed in our hands.

Time isn’t just measured in hours or days. It’s measured in impact.
It’s in the way we sit and listen, the way we show up, the way we honor the Lord in the ordinary.

So maybe the better question isn’t Where did the time go?
Maybe it’s What did I do with the time God gave me?

Today, I’m slowing down just long enough to give Him thanks. For the breath in my lungs. For the people I get to love. For the grace that keeps chasing me down. And for the gentle way He keeps pulling me back when my pace runs ahead of His purpose.

Bible Promise:
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Reflection Questions:

Are you spending your time on what truly matters?
What is one area where God is asking you to slow down and be present?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for each moment You’ve given me. Forgive me for rushing through days and missing Your presence in the small things. Teach me to value time, not as something to control, but as something to steward. Help me be present with the people You’ve entrusted to me. Help me follow Your pace. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Start Small, Stay Faithful

Scripture:
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.
Luke 16:10 (NLT)

Some of the most powerful things God does in our lives begin small.

A whisper. A seed. A yes in private that no one else sees. It might not feel big or exciting, but heaven notices faithfulness long before the crowd ever does.

I’ve seen it in my own life. The mornings where I get up early to pray or the nights I stay up late to pray, even when I feel tired. The times I serve when no one thanks me. The moments I forgive when I could have stayed bitter. It’s in those small, hidden acts of obedience that God keeps shaping my character.

We love to talk about calling and purpose, but most of that is built on what we do when no one’s watching. It’s how we treat people, how we handle disappointment, how we honor God behind the scenes.

God doesn’t need us to be flashy. He calls us to be faithful.

Start small. Stay faithful. And watch what God does with a life surrendered fully to Him.

Bible Promise:
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.
Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)

Reflection Questions:

What small act of obedience is God asking from you this week?
How can you stay faithful in the season you’re in, even if it feels hidden?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for reminding me that You value faithfulness over fame. Help me not to overlook the small beginnings or the quiet moments. Teach me to show up with integrity, humility, and a heart that honors You. Grow something lasting in me as I keep saying yes to You. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise.
It’s in Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen & Amen.

Don’t Rush the Season

Scripture:
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

Some seasons feel slow. Others feel stuck. And some feel like they’ll never end.

But what if the point isn’t to escape the season, but to embrace what it’s doing in you?

I’ve been in places where I begged God to move faster. I didn’t say it out loud, but deep down I just wanted the lesson to be over so I could get to the next thing. But God doesn’t work on our timeline. He works on our heart. And sometimes the season lasts longer because the roots aren’t deep enough yet.

There are things God wants to teach us in each season. Not just endurance, but dependence. Not just waiting, but worship. Not just trusting that He’s working, but learning how to walk with Him even when we don’t see the full picture.

Think about it; when a tree is planted, it doesn’t bear fruit right away. It grows downward first. Quietly. Secretly. The roots go deep before the branches ever reach out. The fruit comes after the roots.

So if you feel buried, maybe you’re just being planted.
And if you’re feeling delayed, maybe you’re just being developed.

Trust the process. Trust the pace. And don’t rush the season God has you in. He’s not just preparing something for you…He’s preparing you for something.

Bible Promise:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Reflection Questions:

Are you trying to rush something God is using to shape you?
What fruit could grow in your life if you stay faithful right where you are?

Prayer:

Father, help me not to rush the season I’m in. I know You are working, even when I can’t see it, and I trust Your timing more than my own. Teach me to grow deep roots, to walk with You daily, and to embrace what You’re forming in me. Don’t let me waste the quiet places. Use them to shape me into someone who’s strong, steady, and full of Your Spirit. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

What You Feed Grows

Scripture:
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)

Whatever you feed will grow.

That’s true in your body, your emotions, your mind, and especially in your spirit. When I spend time in God’s Word and in prayer, I notice a difference in how I respond, how I love, how I lead. But when I skip time with Him or let distractions take over, my thoughts get louder than my faith.

Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through discipline.
And that’s not a harsh word, it’s a hopeful one. The more you feed your spirit, the stronger your walk becomes.

I don’t want to be someone who only knows about God. I want to know Him personally and deeply. That kind of relationship takes time, attention, and consistency.

This year, I’m focusing on feeding what matters. Less of the noise. More of the Word. Less reacting. More praying. Less comparison. More contentment.

Because what you feed grows, and I want to grow into everything He’s called me to be.

Bible Promise:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

Reflection Questions:

What are you feeding most? Your spirit or your flesh?
What’s one small habit you can begin this week to grow closer to God?

Prayer:

Father, help me to feed what matters. Teach me to hunger for Your Word and to crave Your presence more than anything else. Strengthen me as I pursue You. Root me deeply in truth, so that what grows in me is from You and for You. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Welcome to The Hidden Pastor

Scripture: “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:2–3, NLT)

Welcome.

I don’t know how you found this page, but I’m glad you’re here.

This space was created out of a simple desire to share what God is pouring into my heart. Not to build a name, gain followers, or draw attention, but to create a place where Scripture, faith, and real life can meet in honest conversation.

For many years I have had the privilege of serving in ministry. Much of that time has been behind the scenes. My wife serves as a full-time children’s pastor, and her ministry is flourishing. Watching the way God uses her to shape young lives has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Together we have poured countless hours into teaching kids, youth, and young adults the Word of God, counseling families, and helping the next generation grow into strong Christian leaders.

But my heart carries a deep passion for more than just church programs. I love studying theology, diving into Scripture, praying for revival, sharing the gospel, engaging culture, and learning from the lives of the men and women throughout the Bible.

This blog is simply another way to live out that calling.

The Church today faces a unique challenge. Many people love Jesus, attend church faithfully, and read their Bibles. Yet when the Word of God challenges our assumptions or calls us to deeper transformation, it can be easier to stay comfortable than to change.

Rebellion does not always look like obvious sin. Sometimes it simply looks like holding on to our preferences instead of allowing Scripture to reshape our lives.

This space exists to open the Word of God honestly and allow it to speak. Here we will explore Scripture, theology, cultural questions, leadership, prayer, evangelism, and the everyday realities of following Christ.

Some reflections will be short. Others will dig deeper. But all of them will come from time spent in the Word and a desire to remain anchored to the Lord.

For now, this blog will be written anonymously under the name The Hidden Pastor.

That choice is intentional. My wife’s ministry is flourishing, and I never want this space to distract from the incredible work God is doing through her. More importantly, I want the focus to remain on Jesus rather than the person writing the words.

So if you think you know who is writing this, do us both a favor and pretend you don’t.

Let the message matter more than the messenger.

For now, the voice behind these words will remain hidden. The message is what matters.

My prayer is that something written here encourages you, challenges you, and draws you closer to Christ.

Thank you for being here.

Let’s walk this journey together, one step and one minute at a time.

The Hidden Pastor