The stretching season. It can be daunting. You don’t want to be there. It can be painful, but it is ultimately a blessing springing you towards that new evolution of you. Follow my blog with Bloglovin
During a “heart & soul moment” with my friend, Tresa, we had an opportunity to catch up and encourage one another during this confusing period. If you’re still unsure of what a stretching period is or if you’re in one, let me explain. We all go through stretching seasons. They are a period of extreme pressure in which you feel “stretched” to a new understanding, a new perspective, a new way of doing things, etc.
The stretching season challenges what you think you know and understand about life. It is a humbling experience for sure. And most importantly, if you seek the Creator during your stretching season, it can be an inspiring and knowledgeable experience as well.
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I am so thankful for the amazing group of friends I have in my life. These “heart & soul moments” always give me what I need… peace, understanding, gratefulness. This list goes on and on. She is my prayer warrior! You must have a friend like that around! She speaks with true authority because she fully BELIEVES God! And in a stretching season, you need to have the encouragement and belief of a friend such as this. We both walked away with some necessary tools to help make it through our stretching season and get the most out of it:
- Breathe. When the stretching season begins, you don’t even really realize you’re in it. But what you’ll notice is that things aren’t going the way they “should” or how you expected them to. This realization can cause you to get frustrated, but at that moment, you must remember to breathe. Taking that breath will help you center yourself with your Creator.
- Pray. Look, I know it can sound like a cliche, but prayer changes things. Seriously. Prayer is your personal communication with God. It’s a moment of introspection, meditation, vulnerability, and so much more. It’s a beautiful thing and it requires the intention to make it a habit. It doesn’t happen overnight, but building a real prayer life starts when YOU start.
- Surrender. I know for me, surrendering is a hard thing to do. I am such an independent, precise, and strategizing person. I plan ahead and have back up plans too. But here’s the frustratingly beautiful thing about the stretching season… none of that matters. All your planning won’t work, all your doing, will bring you to your knees. And that is where you will be faced with the realization that the Creator is in control. You can’t just say, “Jesus take the wheel!” You have to surrender control of the vehicle to Jesus.
- Consult your board. I have select friends that are my “board of directors” in the spiritual business of me. I think everyone should build their own board of directors. This is a select group of people that you call on for encouragement, assistance, ideas, creativity, new perspectives, analysis, etc. Tresa is on my board of directors. She is my war room friend. I call on her to help understand sometimes what God is saying to me. She has a spiritual investment in my life as I in hers. Our connection is unique. And I am so thankful for having her in my life. This woman came to my bedside when I was in the hospital with spiritual authority, speaking my healing. You GOTTA have people like that in your corner. Who’s going to war for you?
- Trust God. Trusting God sounds easy for Christians, but we struggle with it. I know I do. I believe God, but sometimes, my trust in God is light as a feather, lol. I’m being honest. Some people swear that their trust is rock solid, but it’s a fallacy. Peter thought he was rock solid too, and he realized how shaky it could be in the time of trouble. I acknowledge the fact that sometimes I say I trust God, but I find myself checking, double-checking, and worrying in certain situations. So in this stretching season, I am learning more and more to trust Him. And the surprising thing is this… there are so many experiences in my past where I’ve seen how he comes through or makes a way, opens a door, presents an opportunity, etc. I have to check myself regularly and remind myself to TRUST GOD.
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Ultimately, your stretching season will teach you new things and show you levels you didn’t know you could reach. You just have to rethink the way you’re experiencing this time. Comment below and let me know what you’ve learned during your stretching season. Did I miss some tips? I’d love to hear from you. And I wish you the best on your journey.
