I am currently in a season where life looks different. Really different. My schedule, my routine, my coming, my going—all of it—different.
If I am honest, I am not quite sure how to handle it, how to manage it and even how to live in it. I find myself looking for a how-to guide everywhere I turn, but nothing. No guide, and seemingly no direction. Oftentimes, I can feel stuck, waiting and wondering, “Have I missed it completely?”
But through it all, I keep going. I keep moving, doing what I am supposed to do (or what I think I am supposed to do), putting one foot in front of the other and going on. Most days it’s as if I’m stumbling in the dark, desperately trying to find a light, a match, a candle, a flashlight—I don’t care what, I am just in desperate need of clarity, of normal.
And maybe that’s the word I’m looking for: normal.
What is this season supposed to look like and feel like? Is there a “normal” routine, and am I on pace for where I am supposed to be, want to be, long to be? And wait—where is that again?
As I’ve done my best to fully enter this new season of life, I’ve learned a few things along the way. In my hopes to encourage you to not make the same mistakes I’ve made, I highlighted a few what not to do’s below.
Enjoy, my friends!
What not to do if you find yourself in a place where life looks different:
1. Don’t dwell too long on the past or future.
Daydreaming about the past or the future is a recipe for disaster. The present is where God has you, and He has people and opportunities in front of you today. Yes, it might look different, and that’s OK. Embrace where you are, whom you’re with, and if you need to let go of what was or what might have been in order to live in the now of today, do it. You’ll find it’s always worth it.
2. Don’t think nothing is going on in your life.
When my dad plants his corn in the spring, weeks go by when you can’t see any crop coming out of the ground. Yet we know that in a few short months, the corn will be taller than we are, and when August hits, he’ll be busier than ever.
I am sure there are times when you feel as though there’s nothing growing in your life. But in fact, in this season, He’s growing something powerful in you. Right now it’s below ground, taking root and forming a foundation that will stand the storms. Even if you don’t entirely know what He’s growing, you can trust His intent is to build upon your life, and there’s always more that meets the eye. Just give it time to grow.
3. Don’t get stuck in the waiting.
It can be easy to feel stuck, unproductive and clueless about life, but let me warn you—don’t get stuck in the rut of waiting, because it’s only a season. It will pass, and there will new adventures and opportunities ahead. Use this time to prepare for what’s ahead. Read books, connect with the people God highlights for you and be purposeful to prepare for what’s next. Let preparation be your fuel rather than getting stuck in the waiting.
Above all, stay focused on the good that remembering the grass isn’t greener on the other side and fully diving into the present will only enhance your ability to love life even more.
Yes, life looks different, but maybe, just maybe, this different is meant for your good.
