There was a season in my life when everything seemed to move in slow motion. I had lost my job, and nothing seemed to be working in my favor. As we all know, money answers many things. Therefore, losing my source of income affected me deeply.
At one point, I was tempted to compare my life with that of my friends. They seemed to be progressing while my life looked like it was going backward. They were getting jobs, reaching milestones, and moving ahead. Meanwhile, I felt stuck.
To be honest, I felt like God had benched me, like a player sitting on the sidelines in a baseball game. It almost felt as though God was saying, “Sit down for now.” I even felt like I had become a public example of what happens when things do not work out according to plan.
During that season, I had to calm my thoughts and shift my focus. It was not easy because my mind was filled with worry and many unanswered questions. I kept wondering why things had happened the way they did and what my future would look like. However, I realized that constantly dwelling on negative thoughts was only making me feel discouraged and hopeless.
Instead of feeding a negative attitude during those hard times, I began asking God what He wanted me to learn from that season. I started spending more time in prayer and reflecting on my life. Slowly, I began looking at my situation from a different perspective. Rather than seeing only loss and disappointment, I started seeing new possibilities. As I looked at my situation differently, I noticed opportunities that I did not have when I was employed. I suddenly had more time to develop my skills and pursue ideas I had been putting off for years. More importantly, I had the space to slow down and seek God’s direction for the next chapter of my life.
I spent more time with my little boy. I joined a new Christian circle that encouraged my faith. In addition, I discovered biblical teachings from Apostle Arome Osayi that completely changed my prayer life. I also met new friends who became a source of strength and encouragement as I started over.
As I reflected on these things, gratitude began replacing my frustration. Deep down, I knew that if I had remained in my old lifestyle, I probably would not have made some of the changes I desperately needed.
In fact, this blog dream of mine came alive after I lost my job. I had put it on hold for a long time. I wanted it, but I was not intentional about pursuing it. However, God used an unexpected season to awaken that dream.
Today, I am grateful for that season. I may not be where I want to be yet, but I am confident that the foundation God is helping me build will become a testimony for His kingdom.
Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I want to encourage every woman who feels forgotten today. Look for the blessing hidden in your season of wilderness and barrenness.
Some seasons of waiting are short, like Hannah’s. Others are long, like Sarah’s. Yet God eventually turned both stories around.
Psalm 84:11 says:
“No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
One thing I have learned is that a negative attitude during hard times can blind us to the blessings that still exist around us. It can make us focus so much on our losses that we fail to notice God’s hand at work.
At the same time, I learned that we should not become comfortable in barren places. There are areas of our lives that require intentional prayer and action. Sometimes the enemy would like us to remain discouraged, passive, and afraid to plant seeds for God’s kingdom.
However, God calls us to be fruitful.
Jesus Himself showed us the importance of addressing needs intentionally. He saw people’s pain and responded with compassion, prayer, and action. Likewise, we must keep showing up even when life feels uncertain and abandon a negative attitude during hard times.
Galatians 6:9 encourages us:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Good things often take time. God’s delays are not always His denials. Therefore, do not let a negative attitude during hard times keep you from seeing what God is doing in your life.If you feel like God has benched you, remember this. The bench may not be a place of rejection. Instead, it may be a place of preparation.
God still has a purpose for your life. He is still planting seeds in hidden places. And in His perfect timing, the season that feels like a setback today may become the testimony that encourages someone else tomorrow.
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