Christian Encouragement: Why You Feel Behind (And Why God Isn't Rushing You)
- Gina Stockdall
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
Have you ever looked around and thought, "Everyone else is further ahead than I am." Maybe another author just announced her book launch. Another business owner shared a huge milestone. Another mom seems to have it all together. Another woman appears to be walking confidently in the calling God has given her.
Meanwhile...you are trying to keep up with doctor's appointments. You are raising your children. You are balancing work, ministry, and responsibilities. You are navigating ADHD, anxiety, grief, or simply the weight of everyday life.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, you keep hearing that gentle whisper from God reminding you that He's called you to write, to serve, to lead, or to build something for His Kingdom.
Yet instead of feeling excited...you feel behind.
Friend, if that is where you are today, I want you to know something: Feeling behind does NOT mean you are behind in God's plan.
Comparison Measures Progress. God Measures Faithfulness.
One of the quickest ways to lose sight of your calling is to compare your journey to someone else's. Social media has a way of showing us everyone's highlight reel while we are living through our ordinary Tuesday.
We see launches but not the years of preparation. We see finished books but not the countless rewrites. We see successful businesses but not the tears, prayers, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty that came before them. We see moms creating successful crafting businesses, but not the chaos of the vinyl being turned into lightsabers while she is trying to complete customer orders.
The truth is, God has never asked us to keep pace with someone else's timeline. He has simply asked us to faithfully walk the path He has prepared for us.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Your Calling Doesn't Pause Because Life Gets Busy
Life has seasons. Some seasons are full of celebration. Others are filled with waiting. Some are marked by growth. Others by survival.
Maybe you are balancing motherhood with a dream God has placed on your heart. Maybe you are growing a business while caring for aging parents. Maybe you are learning how to navigate ADHD and finding systems that actually work for your brain. Maybe your health has slowed you down in ways you never expected.
None of those things surprise God.
Your calling did NOT disappear because your season became difficult. Sometimes obedience looks like writing an entire chapter. Sometimes obedience looks like writing one paragraph. And sometimes obedience simply looks like opening your Bible before opening your laptop. Every faithful step matters.
Waiting is NOT Wasted
Waiting can feel frustrating because we often mistake it for inactivity. But throughout Scripture, God repeatedly used seasons of waiting to prepare His people.
David was anointed king long before he wore the crown.
Moses spent years in the wilderness before leading Israel.
Esther was positioned long before she understood why.
Even Jesus spent years in quiet preparation before beginning His public ministry.
Waiting is NOT God's way of forgetting you. Often, it is His way of preparing you.
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength..." - Isaiah 40:31 KJV
Faith Looks Like Taking the Next Step
Faith is NOT having every answer before you begin. Faith is taking the next step even when you cannot see the entire path.
Maybe your next step is outlining your book. Maybe it is creating space in your schedule to write for twenty minutes. Maybe it is asking for help. Maybe it is praying over the vision God has given you.
Do NOT underestimate the power of small acts of obedience repeated consistently over time. God often builds extraordinary things through ordinary faithfulness.
You Are Right on Time for What God Has Called You to Do
If you have been carrying guilt because you think you have fallen behind...lay it down.
If you have been believing the lie that everyone else is further ahead...let it go.
If you have been waiting until life feels easier...remember that God has never required perfect circumstances before inviting someone to trust Him. He simply asks us to walk by faith.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV
Your story is NOT late. Your calling is NOT forgotten. God's plans for you life have NOT expired.
Keep taking the next faithful step. He knows exactly where you are.
Ready to Take Your Next Faithful Step?
If God has placed a book, business, ministry, or message on your heart but you are feeling overwhelmed by where to begin, I would love to encourage you.
During a FREE Author Growth Strategy Call, we will prayerfully talk through your vision, identify where you are feeling stuck, provide Christian encouragement, and create a practical next step that aligns with your calling.
You do NOT have to navigate this journey alone.
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