Before we ever think about taking someone on a journey, we must first walk the path ourselves. This isn’t just some nice leadership idea; it’s the order of transformation. God’s ways are always intentional. He’s not looking for people who can talk the talk, quote the verses, and put on a good face. He’s looking for people who have been in the cave, faced the darkness, wrestled with truth, and come out different. That’s what Elijah had to do before he could ever think about calling Elisha to walk with him. And that’s what you and I have to do too. We must move from self-preservation to legacy, from hiding in fear to pouring into others. That’s where real mentorship begins.

Elijah’s journey from darkness to legacy wasn’t just about his story; it’s a blueprint for all of us. He went from running in fear and isolation to raising up someone else with fire and purpose. From “I’m the only one left” to “Here’s the mantle, let’s go.” But don’t miss this; it didn’t happen overnight. It happened after his cave moment. It happened after he let God meet him in his brokenness. It happened after he let go of his victim story and reconnected with truth and presence. And for many of us, this shift happens in what we often call the second half of life. Not always because of age, but because of perspective. Because we’ve gone through things. Because we’ve experienced loss, grief, or maybe a health scare. Because something woke us up.

These wake-up calls come in many forms. A divorce. The death of a loved one. A financial collapse. A moral failure. A diagnosis. Or even just a quiet, aching sense that we’ve been running on empty for far too long. But no matter what form they take, these moments pull us into a new season. They shake us out of numbness. They remind us of our mortality. They expose what’s not working. And most importantly, they give us an opportunity; a doorway to walk through into deeper healing, deeper clarity, and deeper purpose. Show me a man who has faced one of these wake-up calls, and I’ll show you a man God is preparing to use.

But here's what’s important to understand: you don’t have to lose everything to be awakened. You just have to be honest enough to notice the moments of transition. Look at your story. Where were the cracks that let the light in? Where were the moments when God was trying to grow you up, shift your mindset, or get your attention? Don’t ignore those. They are invitations. They are how God says, “Welcome to the next level.” It’s the same as when we become fathers. There’s a moment when identity shifts; when we stop living just for ourselves and realize that someone else is watching, depending, following. It’s the beginning of legacy.

And God will never let your calling grow faster than your healing. Whatever He wants to build through you, He’s first going to build in you. There’s a flow to this; Christ for you brings salvation, Christ in you brings formation, and Christ through you brings impact. But don’t skip the order. If you try to jump into Christ through you without doing the deep work of Christ in you, your leadership will always be shallow. It’ll be based on performance, not presence. It’ll be driven by ego, not grace. It won’t last.

In Jewish tradition, this kind of returning to clarity was called teshuva. It’s not just repentance in the way we often think; feeling bad or saying sorry. Teshuva is a return. A return to clarity. A return to purpose. A return to who you really are. It’s like opening your eyes after walking in fog. That’s what Elijah experienced. The fog of despair, the fog of lies, the fog of fear; it all had to be cleared out so he could see again. And only then was he ready to lead. Only then could he give the mantle to Elisha.