Are you feeling stuck, frustrated, or like life has come to a complete stop? What if you’re not stuck… but still because God is holding you there on purpose?

In this video, we’ll explore the difference between being stuck and being still through a faith-based lens. You’ll learn how to recognize when God is asking you to pause, and how to use this quiet season to deepen your roots, strengthen your trust, and prepare for the breakthrough that’s coming.

I’ll walk you through a powerful framework called S.T.I.L.L. — a 5-step process to help you stop running, start listening, and lean into God’s timing with faith instead of fear. Plus, we welcome you to take the 3-Day Challenge.

Have you been telling yourself that you’re stuck? That your dreams seem distant, your projects have stalled, and nothing is going the way you expected? Sister, I need you to hear this truth today: being stuck and being still are not the same thing.

Maybe—just maybe—God is holding you still so you can stop running from the lesson He’s trying to teach you.

When God Presses the Pause Button

Last month, I found myself in a place where everything felt stagnant. My projects weren’t progressing, opportunities weren’t opening up, and I kept repeating the same frustrated mantra: “I’m stuck.”

But then, in the quietness of my disappointment, I heard that still, small voice inside—the Holy Spirit—whisper a truth that changed everything: “You’re not stuck. You’re being held still.”

That revelation hit differently. It wasn’t that God had abandoned me in a place of stagnation; He was purposefully holding me in place for my own development and protection. What I perceived as an obstacle was actually an opportunity.

Understanding Divine Stillness

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, Scripture reminds us: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.”

God doesn’t operate on our timeline. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Sometimes what feels like delay is actually divine protection and preparation for our season of breakthrough.

Being stuck is like a seed in the wrong soil—nothing’s happening because you’re in the wrong place or the wrong mindset. There’s frustration, anxiety, maybe even depression clouding your perspective.

But being still? That’s like a seed in dormancy. Everything necessary for growth is already around you and inside you, but it’s not yet the season for visible progress. There’s purpose in the pause.

The STILL Framework: Recognizing God’s Hand in Your Waiting Season

To help you navigate this season of divine stillness, I want to share a framework I call STILL:

S – Stop and Recognize Divine Timing

When you feel stuck, pause and ask yourself: “What if this is exactly where I’m supposed to be right now?”

In Psalm 46:10, God instructs us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” Sometimes our constant movement prevents us from recognizing God’s sovereignty over our lives and circumstances. When we stop fighting against the stillness, we position ourselves to see God’s hand at work.

__________

T – Trust the Process

Remember that growth isn’t always visible. The most significant development often happens underground and unseen.

Think about how a plant grows—before there’s any sign above the soil, intricate root systems are being established below. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Sometimes the most profound transformation happens in the hidden places of our hearts during seasons of stillness.

Jesus taught this principle in Mark 4:26-29 with the parable of the growing seed: “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how…But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Even when you can’t see it, God is at work. Trust His process.

__________

I – Identify the Lesson

Every season of stillness contains valuable lessons that we couldn’t learn otherwise. Ask yourself: “What is God teaching me in this stillness that I couldn’t learn if I were constantly in motion?”

Maybe He’s developing your patience or strengthening your faith. Perhaps He’s teaching you to rely on Him rather than your own strength. Or maybe He’s refining your character so you’ll be prepared for the blessing He wants to entrust to you.

James 1:2-4 encourages us: “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

__________

L – Listen More Deeply

Stillness creates space for God to speak. The noise of constant movement often drowns out God’s direction and wisdom.

In 1 Kings 19:11-13, Elijah discovered that God wasn’t in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the “still small voice.” Sometimes God speaks most clearly in our seasons of stillness when the distractions of activity are removed.

Set aside intentional time to listen—through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and quiet reflection. The answers and direction you seek may come in these moments of divine connection.

__________

L – Lean into Growth

Use this time to develop roots. Focus on building a strong foundation through spiritual disciplines, character development, and skill acquisition rather than rushing forward without adequate preparation.

Consider a tall tree with shallow roots—when strong winds come, it topples over because its root system isn’t deep enough to support its height. God is keeping you still because He’s developing a deep root system in you that’s necessary to sustain the height He plans on taking you to.

Colossians 2:7 encourages us to be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” The deeper your roots grow during this season of stillness, the stronger you’ll stand when storms come in seasons of expansion.

From Frustration to Fulfillment: Transforming Your Perspective

I want to challenge you to shift your perspective on stillness with this three-day exercise:

Day 1: Stillness Inventory

Take 15 minutes to identify where you feel stuck right now. Write it all down—your delayed dreams, stalled projects, and frustrated plans. Then, cross out the word “stuck” and replace it with “still” for each item.

Ask yourself: How does this simple shift change how I feel about my current season? When you view your situation through the lens of divine stillness rather than human stuckness, everything looks different.

Day 2: Lesson Identification

For each area where you feel held in place, ask yourself: “What might God be teaching me here?” Write down at least three possible lessons for each situation.

Remember, sometimes the lesson is simply patience—learning to wait on God’s perfect timing instead of rushing ahead in your own strength. As Isaiah 40:31 promises, “Those who wait on 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.”

Day 3: Divine Listening

Set aside 10 uninterrupted minutes in prayer and meditation, focusing on this question: “Lord, what are You protecting me from by holding me still right now?”

The answer might surprise you. Perhaps God is protecting you from relationships, opportunities, or paths that would ultimately lead you away from His best for you. Maybe He’s shielding you from success you’re not yet prepared to steward well.

Embracing God’s Timeline Over Your Own

I know some of you are thinking, “But I don’t have time to be still! I need to make progress now!” Consider this truth: farmers who try to rush the seasons end up with smaller harvests.

Your stillness isn’t a delay—it’s preparation. Rushing the process doesn’t speed up your destiny; it often just produces smaller results. God is more concerned with your character than your comfort, more invested in your holiness than your happiness.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The harvest will come, but only in its proper season. Trust God’s timing.

A Prayer for Women in Waiting

Lord, teach us to trust Your timing even when we don’t understand it. Help us to be still and truly know that You are God—sovereign, loving, and working all things together for our good. May we use these seasons of stillness to develop deeper roots in You so that when it is time to bloom, we’ll stand strong in any storm.

For every sister reading who feels stuck right now, I pray that You’ll whisper in her heart the lessons she needs to learn in this season. Transform her perspective so she can see Your hand at work, even in the waiting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Moving Forward in Faith

Now you understand that being stuck and being still aren’t the same thing. God is holding you still so you can finally learn that lesson you’ve been running from.

Remember, flowers don’t bloom simply because the sun is out. They bloom because their roots have grown deep and strong during seasons of darkness and dormancy. Your season of stillness is preparing you for a beautiful blooming that wouldn’t be possible without this time of root development.

In our next conversation, we’ll explore how this divine stillness creates space for the discipline you’ll need to build lasting roots. Until then, embrace your season of stillness with faith and expectation, knowing that God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28).

Are you in a season of stillness right now? How has this message changed your perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share in the Black Girl Visions Community!

About Bailey Orenia

With 20+ years as an entrepreneur and communications maverick, Bailey has empowered thousands through her unique blend of wisdom and relatability.

As an former XM Radio Host and BET.com pioneer, Bailey’s insights have been featured in The Washington Post, NBC, VISTAS Magazine, and more.

As author of “Life Been Lifing: Don’t Be Distracted from Your Purpose,” Bailey doesn’t just talk about purpose, she guides you through life’s chaos to find yours. Her no-nonsense approach cuts through the noise, offering clarity when you need it most.

Get Social With This Black Girl:

You May Also Like