At first, a wake-up call may not feel like favor. It may feel frustrating, embarrassing, inconvenient or painful. It may make you ask why God allowed something to be exposed, interrupted or delayed. But when you look deeper, you may realize that God was not trying to hurt you. He was trying to get your attention before something hurt you more.

God says plainly, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… and when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned” (Isaiah 43:2). Notice the language. Not if you pass through—but when. Favor does not prevent the fire; it ensures the fire does not consume you.

In the natural army, one of the highest codes of honor is this: no soldier left behind. On the battlefield, if a soldier is wounded, you don’t abandon them. You don’t shake your head and walk away. You risk your own safety to carry them out. You fight for them until they can stand again. The Kingdom of God operates the same way—at least it should.