It is not about perfection, It's about Progress!
I love this statement because when we think about our progress in life, dreams or even success or milestones sometimes we get too hung up on people's opinions or our own opinions of how it should be and we stop moving forward. The reality is that sometimes we must learn by making mistakes. We all make mistakes and have setbacks but there are some experiences that touch us so deeply, that it makes us feel paralisezed, impotent and quite frankly stuck, unable to move forward. Have you been there? You know, when you think it is going to be one way and it's completely the opposite and it all goes down the drain...? I've been there and done that quite a lot!
It is in those moments when we might feel tempted to give up or maybe create a story about what happened; one that will justify the reasons why we stopped moving forward. Setbacks and unexpected things happen to the best of us but the way we choose to deal and assess these situations is proportional to our progress in the journey of life. Sometimes the journey becomes messy, difficult and quite long but must dare to show up and complete that part of the journey.
We see many times in the bible; verses, stories and encouragement to press on and move forward. Heroes of faith whose journeys are full of setbacks and struggles but as they press on believing in what God have said allowed them to stand firm with courage and determination to show up in the midst of the unexpected.
The truth is that I'm still learning to progress in the midst of setbacks, like Paul I don't consider myself to have attained it yet but one thing I know: We must find the courage to move forward
in a new and unexpected way. To do so I have learned 4 keys or steps to take action amid setbacks and unexpected situations.
STOP: Take a moment to put yourself together and love yourself for daring to believe what God has said about you, your calling your life... Think about those that are paralized and waiting! You are not one of them. You dare to take the journey and take a leap of faith. That itself makes you courageous and bold. So set your eyes on Jesus! Focus, focus, focus, you must allow him to perfect your faith and strengthen you.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” Hebrew 12:2
THINK: Now think! It's important to ponder and think about what went wrong and write it down.This will allow you to remove it from your mind and your soul and examine the facts. Remember that you have the mind of Christ therefore wisdom belongs to you! Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding so you can receive revelation and strategies.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8
ASK: Find someone that can shed new light or give you a new perspective or counsel. Sometimes we need someone that can have gone through that path before us.
“In an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
MOVE: Weight your options and dare to take another step! .... And another, and another! You must take a decision to move forward. You will gain clarity as you take each step because clarity comes by Action!
“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”James 2:17
No matter what you are dealing with today, just remember to take that leap of faith. Life it's all about the progress you make through the journey. It might be messy, long and difficult but there will be unexpected rest stops that will take your breath away and will allow you to reframe your mindset so you can move forward. Remember you must press on and as you do, clarity will come! XOXOXO ~Barb
Want to dig deeper? Here are some bible verses that will help you!
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2