When I am Standing Still

1:00 AM



Sometimes you look around and you feel like everyone else in your life is moving forward, but you are standing still. They graduated from college; you are still content with your high school education. They just got a huge promotion or incredible job opportunity, you are still trying to figure out how make enough to cover basic expenses. They have a boyfriend, a fiancé, or have a gold band on their left finger, while you don’t see any special someone on the horizon.

The past couple of months, while I have been away from the blogging world, I realized that I often feel like I am standing still while many of my friends and family are moving to the next stage of life. You want to know the funny thing? I am content with standing still.

Sometimes, we are standing still because we haven’t stepped out in faith to do what God is calling us to do. Normally, God gives us a feeling of restlessness and a burden to do something when that is the case. I have a great peace about my life right now, even though I am standing still. Sometimes, the stillness is because you are exactly where God wants you.

I don’t have a boyfriend, or even any possibilities right now, but I am learning to love God and those he places in my life deeply.

I don’t have a successful career that is the envy of my friends, but I have been given a chance to pursue what I love.

I don’t have a lot of money, but God has blessed me with all that I need and much more.

I have friends who truly care about me and build me up in my faith, even if we are at different points in our journey.

I may feel at times that I am standing still, but I am right where God wants me to be.  

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14 comments

  1. You have such a beautiful faith; thank you for those inspiring words.

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  2. Thank you for sharing this today. Up until recently I was in a graduate program where I was privileged to be apart of teaching in our Masters program in addition to laboratory work to finish up my doctorate. For 7 years, I watched students come and go...moving onto good jobs, medical school, PA programs, etc. And there I was year after year still doing lab work not finishing up my doctorate. This made me sad at times because I felt as if everyone else was moving on and I was "standing still". It really wasnt until sometime last year did I understand that although it felt as if I was standing still, I was actually right where I should be. Although I had not completed my degree, I was able to spend more time with my family. My husband and children. Better, I was able to get married during graduate school and have kids (with paid time off) I was able to picking up, dropping off, attending school functions with my girls. I was able to do so much for my church, especially our youths.

    In the beginning I saw the glass as half empty instead of half full. I give God praise that in my ignorance He did not rush the process and instead comforted me during this time. Showing me that there was a bigger picture that I was not seeing because I was looking through the eyes of flesh and not with the eyes of the Spirit. The long of the short is this past December, after 7 long (very long) years I completed my PhD. My family was there to support me. I praise God for bringing me this far. And I look forward to what the future holds.

    Thank you once again for sharing and I pray that with my story I was able to bring peace to your life as well. Continue writing because I am reading....

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  3. Thanks for the encouraging words, Sarah. I've felt and still feel that same way at times, that I'm "standing still" when everyone else is moving forward, sometimes at a rush. :) But I know I'd never be doing what I am doing if I wasn't "standing still."

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    1. You are so right. Some of the best things happen because we are standing still.

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  4. Being where God wants you is the best place to be. Often the world see it as foolishness, or thinks you need to be doing more with your life, but if you are obeying God then it doesn't matter what they think.

    I had something more intelligent planned for that but I've been working all day so thought processes isn't working...

    I loved this post though.

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  5. Oh, Sarah, this is beautiful! I've so often found myself standing still while everyone else was moving forward. Thank you for the reminder that it's not a bad thing if standing still is exactly what God wants for us today! *Hug!*

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  6. Ha, that is part of my focus for this new year, to stand still and wait. I struggle with patience and contentment, so this post hits home. Thanks for sharing!

    http://alivemasterpiece.blogspot.com/

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    1. Grace, I will be praying for you. Have you read Beyond Waiting by Rebekah Snyder?

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  7. I was just telling my mom what a huge blessing you are, Sarah. I feel close to you...and we've not even met. You are a gift from God. If blessing people the way you do involves standing still, then by all means stand still for as long as you can! :) Hugs!

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    1. Alicia, this comment made my day. I am so glad that God has connected us.

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