Resistance to God’s will only delays the process of refining and blessing.
When one of my favorite work projects suddenly came to a halt, I experienced a whirlwind of unexpected emotions. Initially, I was hit with a wave of disappointment, which instantly turned into a larger wave of worry. But after taking time to pray and reflect, I sensed the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit assuring me everything would be alright.
Throughout the emotional highs and lows, I found myself wondering if the Lord was asking me to pause, pivot, or persevere. And as the days went on, I found myself doing a little of each. First, I paused long enough to seek the Lord’s wisdom. I then pivoted towards a few personal goals I’d been putting off. And lastly, I persevered in my God-given gifts of writing, speaking, and mentoring.
If you’re facing uncertainty and wondering what God might be asking of you, here are a few insights into pausing, pivoting, and persevering:
Patience in the Pause
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7
Pausing to seek wisdom and guidance is not only Biblical but also providential. It includes creating a margin in our schedule, taking a break from busyness, and resting in the Lord. The thing to keep in mind is that God might press the pause button longer than we like, but in the end, waiting patiently for Him is always the right decision.
Liz Auld shares, “Being still isn’t always easy, but it can be enriching if we take time to be thankful and remember that God is always with us.” I love her emphasis on thankfulness because gratitude is one of the quickest ways to calm our minds and settle our hearts. Taking time to remember God’s goodness gives us renewed hope for the future. And when we’re uncertain of how He’s leading us, we can pause, be still, and know that He is God.
When your life feels on hold, turn to the One who is your refuge and strength. Resist leaning on your own understanding and trust His perfect timing.
Though I’ve never met a person who regretted waiting on the Lord, if pausing is difficult for you, turn it into a time of peaceful productivity such as:
-Writing letters of encouragement to extended family members
-Trying out a new Bible study or reading plan
-Taking long walks in nature and enjoying God’s creation
-Reconnecting with an old friend or mentor
Pausing doesn’t have to be painful, especially when you surrender your thoughts and plans to Jesus. Remember the familiar verse from Proverbs 16:3, which says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Here’s a prayer to help you pause: Lord, You know I’m not comfortable in the waiting, but I trust You to use this season to restore and refresh me for the new things ahead, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Trust in the Pivot
“The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” Genesis 12:1
In the daily devotion A Prayer for Resilience, Jessica Von Roekel writes, “Pivoting keeps the ball of one foot connected to the ground while rotating it to face a different direction. At times, God uses our unwanted experiences to get us to pivot. Often, we spend so much time wishing for what was, we miss the new direction he wants us to go or the new insight into his loving nature he wants us to know.”
Each time the Lord asks us to pivot, He turns us toward something that better aligns with His will. It might not feel natural or easy, but our resistance only delays the process of refining and blessing. May I repeat that? Resistance to God’s will only delays the process of refining and blessing.
Jessica goes on to say, “When we base our understanding of God’s love on his character and his Word, we develop the ability to pivot, adjust, and recover from the difficulties we face.” Trusting God’s character enables us to pivot without fear. There might be an acclimation period, but when we know the Lord is leading us, we can be assured the growing pains will soon subside.
Here’s a prayer to help you pivot: Lord, when I’m struggling to change course, lead me gently by Your righteous right hand, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Joy in the Perseverance
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36
When my oldest son was a toddler, he’d get easily frustrated with toys and puzzles that required patience. But instead of encouraging him to keep trying, we’d step in and finish it for him. Looking back, I see how we could have done things differently, reassuring him he would eventually succeed if he kept at it.
Perseverance isn’t pleasant, but it stretches us beyond our comfort zones into patience and endurance. And while it’s tempting to give up, the Bible urges us to push forward through trials, knowing they are developing our strength and maturity.
When perseverance is difficult, here are a few Bible verses to remember:
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.” Colossians 1:9-11
Here’s a prayer to help you persevere: Lord, when I feel like giving up, please strengthen me for the journey and give me the patience to persevere, in Jesus’ name, amen.
What Is God Asking of You?
When life takes an unexpected turn, it can be difficult to discern what God is doing. Is He asking you to pause, pivot, or persevere? Perhaps, He is calling you to all three:
-Pausing in His peaceful presence
-Pivoting towards gratitude and praise
-Persevering in the gifts He’s already given you
Remember Micah 6:8, which says, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” When your focus is to walk with God, the changes that come are much easier to navigate. With Him, there’s peace and understanding—a certainty that He will lead you in the way you should go.
Your goals and plans might change on a dime, but God is faithful through it all. You can rest in His divine providence, trust Him with the outcome, and persevere with His help. He’s only a prayer away.
More resources for your journey:
25 Encouraging Bible Verses about Perseverance
5 Signs God Is Telling You to Move On
What Happens When God Forces Us to Rest
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Zbynek Pospisil
