Courageous Change: How to Boldly Pivot When Pain or Plateaus Are Keeping You StuckSample

Day 3: Patience During Life's Plateaus

Have you hit a plateau in your life? Despite your best efforts, are you stuck in a rut, unable to move forward with your plans, goals, and dreams? If so, I can sympathize with what you are going through.

As someone whose loved ones have struggled with addiction and mental health issues, I felt trapped by circumstances beyond my control. While I knew the Lord had called me to serve women in similar situations, it became increasingly challenging to do so as our trial intensified. It would take years of perseverance before I started making actual progress.

While Jesus never promised his followers lives free of hardship, he did graciously offer us abundant life (see John 10:10). This is abundant life is not contingent on everything working out according to our plans. Instead, it is a gift the Lord gives us no matter what our circumstances are like.

Even so, it can be hard to keep the faith when we are stuck in a hard place, and nothing ever changes. We can become restless, taking matters into our own hands, or be tempted to quit and give up. During these seasons of waiting, it's important for us to remain humble and trust in the Lord and his plan for us.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read, “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” As with nature, our lives have seasons for planting, growing, waiting, and harvesting. Rainy and dry seasons also occur.

As we wait, we should avoid entering a spiritual drought, where we grow weary and start to doubt God’s plan for us. Instead, we can cultivate our faith and trust the Lord will bring his plans to fruition at just the right time.

Does this mean taking steps to break through plateaus by setting goals or establishing new habits is a bad thing? No, not at all. But before proceeding with your plans, it is wise to seek the Lord’s approval and direction. Begin by asking yourself the following questions:

• Have I prayed and sought God’s will concerning my goals and plans? Do they align with his purpose for my life?
• Am I grateful for the abundant life the Lord has blessed me with? Am I practicing gratitude during difficult times?
• Am I waiting patiently for the Lord to reveal his perfect timing before taking action?
• Am I humbly submitting to the Lord and trusting in his plan, even if my circumstances do not change or improve?

When we hit plateaus in our lives, it is tempting to become impatient while we wait. Instead, we can embrace these seasons as opportunities to trust in the Lord, exercise patience, and grow in our faith.

Prayer:

Dear Lord. Teach me to trust your plan for my life during periods when it feels stagnant. May I always walk in obedience to you, even when I don’t understand your plan or timing. Thank you for leading me according to your will. Amen.