SEASONS OF REST VS. SEASONS OF RUNNING

2020 has definitely been a crazy year, full of unexpected twists and turns.

Just when you think it can’t get any stranger, something else happens and you’ve gotta make another shift, another pivot, another adjustment...

Back when we were still at the beginning of all of this, there was a post floating around Facebook that talked about how if you didn’t spend this time well - starting something new or learning something new - that it wasn’t about your lack of time. It was about your lack of discipline.

When I first saw this post, my initial reaction was, “Yes! PREACH!”

But, at the time, I was struggling to keep my head above water. I was trying to help teach my kids at home, managing my own business and the businesses of my clients, and because everything was shifting online, The Biz Runners was getting more + more calls for help.

Instead of having MORE time, I definitely had less time than when my kids were in school full time…

At the time, I wasn’t in a position to be starting anything new or learning anything new. I need to put my focus on home and keep everything running smoothly if I wanted to come out on the other side alive.

And, honestly, reading that post, I felt JUDGED. I felt like I was EXPECTED to be doing more. That I was EXPECTED to be setting an example of being everything to everyone - and managing it all with grace and dignity.

Ha! Nope. I was on the verge of a meltdown - and for us, COVID-19 really didn’t affect us all that much since I already worked at home and ended up getting to spend more time with my kids than I ever had since becoming a parent.

But, that was then…

Now, 6 months into this thing, and the tables have shifted. While there are still days where I’m just trying to keep my head above water, I also have more time on my hands because my kids are back to school and I have 6 hours of (mostly) uninterrupted work time.

What was a season of REST for me from March through August, has now shifted into a season of RUNNING.

There will be times in your life when it’s time for you to RUN after some major goals. I can think back to 10 years ago when I was unemployed and was trying to figure out what to do with my life. This is where goal setting and getting uncomfortable set in. Had I let that season be a season of REST, there are A LOT of things I know wouldn’t have happened. That was a season of RUNNING for me. I started a blog. I trained and completed a marathon. I found things that I loved to do during a really difficult time in my life.

But, there have also been PLENTY of seasons of REST… like the first half of this year. As much as I wanted to run because I felt that was what I needed to do, God very clearly told me to take a step back in several aspects of my life. I stopped pushing myself to train hard in my running and I watched (and felt) my body begin to heal itself. I took a step back from my personal business, which allowed me to get some perspective on where I needed to improve in my leadership.

And those seasons of rest… the best part about them is that they set you up for the seasons of running. Now that my kids are back in school, it feels like time to start RUNNING again, both figuratively + literally.

I’ve set some pretty big goals for myself for this last quarter of the year that are intended to push me out of my comfort zone. But, I feel 100% prepared for that BECAUSE of the time where I’ve been able to REST and reflect the past 9 months.

So, I want you to take some time today and think about what season you are in right now. Maybe for you, you chose to homeschool your kids because it was the best option for you. But, it also means taking a step back in other aspects of your life, like your business. I know that it’s hard to accept that when you truly WANT to go after some goals, but it just might not be the right time for that.

Or, maybe you’re like me, and after a season of rest, you’ve found more time on your hands and you’re ready to set some stretch goals that you truly feel prepared for.

Friend, whatever season you’re in, TRUST. Have faith that this is where God wants you right now for a reason. And remember, this is truly only a season. It’s hard to be patient - we are a society of immediate gratification and a want for fun, fast and easy. It’s not always going to be that way, but if we TRUST God’s timing, you’ll know why it was worth the wait.