Like many of you who may (hopefully) be reading this, I’ve had to take a break from a lot of things in life - with writing this article being the come back from one of those things I took a break from, an ironic and perfect example, I know. Some breaks became permanent halts which were deeply insightful because I thought some things were important until I realised I could actually live without them and that their presence didn’t add as much as I thought they did. It was also during this break that I realised that fright grips me when I have to do the things that will change everything and in this case it was pressing the pause button on everything I knew. Hang onto this thought - it’s relevant (fingers crossed.)
You may not know this but what we’re called to do in various seasons of our lives looks different. Think about it like this: In summer we’re required to wear less bulky clothes, in winter we’re required to do the opposite. The same goes for the rainy season etc - stay with me. It’s alright (and expected of you) to put away your boots, coats etc for a while and it’s okay to permanently put away the ones that are torn, worn out or too small to serve you ever again. With this analogy in mind, why do people often think that if they stop doing the thing they used to do last season, maybe the one thing they were known for then they’ve backslid, they are irrelevant and are no longer walking in their calling or purpose? What if dropping the “old” is exactly what’s required of them in the new season?
There’s nothing wrong with pausing. But while you’re pausing, march into something else (see what I did there?) Pausing doesn’t have to be stagnant. I spent 2021 pouring myself into serving in every capacity I could; at church, in school, at work, blogging - whatever ministry looked like for me then and when I relocated back home all of that stopped. And I thought these things stopping meant I was stagnant. I thought I’d lost my identity. But me wanting to hold on to that and wanting the new season to look like the old- the familiar, I probably looked crazy to someone who could see what the new season had in store for me. If no one saw it then, I definitely see it now.
As soon as I had the epiphany I marched (walked quickly and with determination - Google) out of the hiatus and my life has never looked more like an answered prayer and hopeful as it does now. Knowledge is usually acquired in seasons of stillness. Growth eventuates in the same place. The last season paved the way for what I’m currently doing and this season looks greater and grander than the former- as it should; I see why the former had to pause. Now... I would have lost myself along the way if I didn’t give all honour and glory to God. I’m doing the same things but in a different and seemingly new way and marching (walking in a military manner with a regular measured tread- Google, again) into uncharted territory because God helped me to pause some things until it’s their season again.
It’s not productivity, ministry, calling, purpose or whatever name you want to give it until it’s what you’re supposed to be doing (not what you/your friends/parents/social media think you’re supposed to be doing). So you’ve taken a hiatus from certain practices, and mindsets? Great job - now decide what you’re picking up again and what you’re permanently dropping (like it’s hot). Remember the thought I said was somewhat relevant? This is it. Hiatuses are godly, intelligent, wise and fulfilling. They help you to realise what’s important. If you cannot give yourself time to realign your priorities then how do you truly know what you’ve been living for? And if you doubt this, why do you think people March out of hiatuses doing, feeling and looking bigger and better?
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