3 Things God Removes When You’re Elevating

Elevation is not just about gaining more—it’s also about losing what no longer serves God’s purpose for your life. Just as a gardener prunes a plant so it can bear more fruit (John 15:2), God sometimes removes people, habits, and even comforts to prepare you for what’s ahead.

If you’re in a season where things feel like they’re being stripped away, don’t despair. God is making room for something greater. Here are three things He often removes when you’re elevating.

1. Toxic Relationships

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

"Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’"

Not everyone is meant to go with you into your next season. Some relationships drain your faith, discourage your growth, or distract you from God’s purpose.

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."

When God removes certain people, it’s not rejection—it’s protection. He’s making space for divine connections that will encourage, challenge, and align with your destiny.

2. Familiar Comfort Zones

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"

Elevation requires stretching beyond what’s comfortable. God may remove old routines, jobs, or even ministries that once felt secure because He’s calling you to something greater.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

If you’re feeling unsettled, it may be because God is shifting you into a new assignment. Trust Him—He won’t lead you where His grace won’t sustain you.

3. Self-Reliance & Pride

Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Before God promotes you, He often humbles you. Why? Because elevation requires dependence on Him, not yourself.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’"

If God is stripping away your self-sufficiency, it’s so you’ll rely on His strength. True elevation comes when we decrease so He can increase (John 3:30).

Trust God’s Process

When things (or people) are being removed from your life, don’t resist—surrender. God isn’t taking away to harm you; He’s clearing the path for what He has prepared.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

If you’re in a season of pruning, remember: the pain of removal is temporary, but the promise of elevation is eternal. Keep trusting, keep obeying, and watch what God does next.

Are you ready to embrace the new thing God is doing in your life?