Courageous Change: How to Boldly Pivot When Pain or Plateaus Are Keeping You StuckSample

Day 7: Proceed-Change Your Actions

You made it! After pausing, praying, and pivoting, you are finally ready to proceed. It’s time to form a plan and get started. But what if your circumstances haven’t changed? How do you move forward if you are still feeling stuck?

The truth is, you may not be as stuck as you think. You began making progress the moment the Lord revealed his plan for your life, and you chose to obey him. Genuine change begins when we humble ourselves and surrender our own plans, dreams, and goals to the Lord.

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10 ESV)

Take a moment to consider where you were when you first felt the Lord prompting you to make changes in your life. Were you focusing on your problems and reasons for being stuck? Were you avoiding stepping out in faith for fear of failure? It’s understandable. It’s hard to leave the security of our comfort zones to move forward in God's plan for us, even when it is in our best interest.

The good news is you are not alone on your journey. The Lord is with you, guiding you to obey his will and fulfill his purpose (See Philippians 2:13).

While many of you are ready to launch, there may be some who feel as though your situation will never change. The trial you are experiencing seems like it may last forever. Instead of progressing into a new phase in your life, you are in a season of waiting, wondering, and weathering the storm. How do you have hope for your future when, by all outward circumstances, things seem like they may never get better?

It is during these seasons of waiting God does the deep work of transforming our hearts. We read these words of encouragement in Isaiah 40:31, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

During these delays, let me encourage you to be patient and not lose heart. No time spent waiting for the Lord is ever wasted. His purpose and plans for your life do not have an expiration date. In the meantime, he is renewing you day by day and will faithfully complete the good work he began in you.

As you start on your journey of transformation, remember, it won't always be easy. Don't give up. These are the times you will need to press into God's presence and rely on his strength to keep going.

You are now ready to get unstuck by changing your actions. Answer the following questions before you proceed.

• What change(s) do I need to make to move forward in God's purpose for my life?
• What are my biggest hinderances to moving forward?
• How have I prepared to address these obstacles? (Prayer, memorize scripture, careful planning, accountability partner).
• Is the timing right to proceed?
• What is one action I can take to get unstuck today?

Congratulations! You are taking courageous steps towards changing your life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus. Thank you for placing this dream in my heart. I admit I have doubted whether I would ever see it fulfilled. Please forgive me for not trusting you and being afraid to step out in faith. Today, I choose to get unstuck, boldly pivot, and step into courageous change. Amen.

Was this Plan helpful? Click Courageous Change Class to download the study guide and get started on your journey. Thank you for your participation.

Blessings,

Dawn Ward, The Faith to Flourish