From Stuck to Strong: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

There are seasons in life when it feels as though everything has come to a standstill. The promotion you hoped for never comes. Your business is not growing as quickly as you planned. Some of your relationships become strained, your finances have tightened, and you feel like your dreams are delayed. Even worse, sometimes the greatest obstacle is not outside of us, it resides inside our own minds. We become stuck and it is not because we are not smart or talented enough, but because disappointment, fear, uncertainty, or exhaustion quietly convince us that staying where we are feels safer than moving forward.

As The Purpose Partner, I have learned something important over the years: being stuck is not a destination. It is simply a season. Seasons change. And so can you. One of the greatest misconceptions people believe is that successful people avoid obstacles. That is not true, they simply learn how to navigate them differently. They try to find ways to turn them into opportunities. Every meaningful life includes setbacks. For me, I have experienced several setbacks both personally and professionally and I have learned that purpose requires perseverance. It is not a matter of if obstacles will come, but rather when they do will we be prepared. Many people experience what I call a mental traffic jam. Their minds become so crowded with “what ifs,” self-doubt, past failures, comparison, and fear of making the wrong decision that they stop moving altogether.

When we start overthinking things it can cause paralysis and perfection can cause procrastination. We oftentimes become fearful convincing ourselves that now is not the right time to do what we know is the next right thing. Remember, clarity often comes after we keep going and moving through the obstacles that we think in our mind are too difficult to overcome. Sometimes your next step does not need to be perfect. It simply needs to be faithful. I often remind women that crossroads are not punishments. They are invitations to rediscover who we are and what are our priorities. To reimagine what is possible. I believe sometimes God allows us to become uncomfortable because comfort has become our greatest limitation. I have personally learned oftentimes when one path closes, another often appears, but only after we are willing to release the one we thought we needed. Setbacks and obstacles have become some of my greatest teachers. They reveal opportunities I would have never seen otherwise.

When you are experiencing a time of feeling stuck, I do not want you to feel you are alone or that you cannot overcome this season. What it means is the importance of continuing to get back up. It means believing that your circumstances may change your plans, but they do not have to change your purpose. We become stronger during difficult seasons. As you move forward, remember to practice Strategic Grace. Strategic Grace helps us to stay calm and not panic when we are faced with obstacles. You learn to move with intention instead of pressure. We act and not react. It means protecting your peace while pursuing your purpose. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is pause long enough to hear God’s direction before taking your next step. This has been an important lesson for me.

Small, faithful steps eventually become remarkable journeys. It is important to be honest with yourself on exactly where you are so that you can create the foundation of where you need to go next. Then focus one step at a time and stop looking back. Move forward and surround yourself with people who will encourage and strengthen you and remember delays are not necessarily denials. Sometimes preparation takes longer than we expected because the assignment is greater than we imagined. We are stronger than our setbacks and greater than our disappointments. Do not allow today’s obstacle to become tomorrow’s identity. They can be your greatest opportunity. You were never created to remain stuck. You were created to grow. Because sometimes the greatest opportunity is not waiting on the other side of your obstacle. Sometimes it is the person you become while overcoming it.

Wendy is the Purpose Partner helping women go from Crossroads to Confidence, from Shaken to Unshakable, from Purpose to Power. To learn more visit WendyGladney.com and ForgivingForLiving.org