The past few weeks I have really struggled with a sense of stagnancy. No, it’s not related to a specific milestone – though the phrase “I thought I’d be further in life by now” is a familiar one.
It’s at times like these that I start to get a bit antsy. I don’t have a single “settling” bone in my body. I have always valued progress – to the detriment of myself and others sometimes.
So when the wind just stops blowing and the sails lie fallow on your mast, what do we do? Here are a few possible scenarios:
Give up
Let’s get real – all of us have done this to a degree at one time or another. “If things aren’t happening, it obviously means that this is not for me…” That kind of self-talk is full of justification and could hold up with your friends, but would it hold up before God? Who knows what He is trying to lead you through as you sit and wait.
Sometimes when everything around us stops happening, it means God wants to do something on the inside first. It might feel frustrating and you might be tempted to start panicking. But that’s where God can hold your full attention.
Start hoarding
When things start going quiet and you feel trapped, it’s easy to turn selfish. When nothing seems to be happening, you start “living for the moment”. It may feel like there is no reason to think about tomorrow. “My plans didn’t work out, so why should I bother?” The truth is that it won’t take long for you to become dissatisfied with life. Fulfilling your desires in the moment will only lead you to move on to “the next best thing” until there is nothing new any more and life has lost it’s purpose.
I know what it is like to be empty like that. I wish that kind of hopelessness on no one. But if you find yourself in this kind of struggle – I would encourage you to start dreaming again. Not plan. Dream!
Take away the limitations and allow yourself to consider the possibilities of a world where opportunity is immeasurable. God is very capable. There is no limit to his ability. So dream things that only He could do – because I have seen how he can do the seemingly impossible.
Keep your eyes on the horizon
When you find yourself in an inescapable situation, it is important to keep your direction in sight. The one goal that you can have in these times is – others. The temptation is to clam up and hold tight onto everything. But if you intentionally focus on others through this season, you will not be stagnant – you can pour out into others and be surprised by how they encourage you.
How do you measure progress? By what other people see, or by how other people see you? If we stop thinking about ourselves and allow ourselves to consider others, it actually refreshes our soul and allows God to do what He wants in us so we can get on with life. Goals are important. But if they don’t include or benefit others, then we will find life a whole lot harder than it should be.
God is all about us – each and every one of us individually. When Jesus was sent, His goal was others. It wasn’t for people to be impressed by who He was, it was so that we could freely know God through his sacrifice.
Sometimes we are stuck in a place where the only option left is to look to God. He wants your attention. If you would like to find out more on how you could know Him and find freedom even when your situations are hard, click on the link below.