The Strength to Stay Still: When God Says “Wait”

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Well, hello my valued listeners and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power.
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I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf, and we're continuing our October journey
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through the power of presence, reclaiming stillness, strength, and sacred space.
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So, so far, we've explored the power of slowing down and protecting your peace.
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But today, we're going even deeper.
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Because there's a specific kind of strength we don't talk about enough.
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And that is the strength to stay still when everything in you wants to move.
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So let's get into it. In a culture obsessed with movement and momentum,
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stillness can feel uncomfortable.
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But here's what I know. Our stillness is not weakness.
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Stillness is not laziness. And stillness is not failure. It is in fact,
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in my opinion, wisdom, discernment, and obedience.
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Because there is power in saying, I don't have all the answers right now,
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but I trust the one who does.
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So Isaiah 40, 31 reminds us, Waiting that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
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They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary.
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And they shall walk and not faint.
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Waiting doesn't mean God is silent. It means He's working. behind the scenes,
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in the details, in the becoming.
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And sometimes the breakthrough doesn't come when you push harder.
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It instead comes when you pause longer.
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So let's be honest. Waiting isn't easy.
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But here's how you know you might be resisting the stillness God is calling you into.
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You're rushing decisions because silence feels scary.
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You keep busy so you don't have to sit with your own thoughts.
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You confuse noise for progress.
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You're anxious when things feel slow, even if they're peaceful.
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Stillness forces us to trust what we can't control.
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And that's the most sacred surrender.
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So how can you embrace the weight without losing your mind?
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Here are three things that I've tried that I want to share with you.
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First, create rhythm in the rest. I mean, use this time to journal,
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reflect, and deepen your spiritual practice.
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I mean, waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. So you can create rhythm in the rest.
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Second, ask better questions. So instead of, why is this taking so long?
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Try instead What is God refining in me During this season?
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And third Anchor to what you know is true,
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Because God is faithful And you are cold And this pause has purpose.
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Now here's your empowerment prompt for this week.
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I want you to think on this. Where in your life are you being called to wait instead of move?
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And what might God be growing in this stillness?
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So of course I want you to write it down and release the pressure to have it all figured out.
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And just be still.
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So I'm going to repeat that again. Where in your life are you being called to wait instead of move?
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And what might God be growing in this stillness?
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So again, write it down and release the pressure to have it all figured out and just be still.
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So in closing, I want to again remind you that waiting does not mean you're stuck.
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It simply means you are being strengthened. So give yourself permission to be present in the pause.
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Trust the timing, trust the process, and trust God.
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Now I too am in a waiting season. And I just want you to know that yes,
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the waiting can at times seem insurmountable. But just remember that.
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Trust the timing. Trust the process.
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And above all, trust God.
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So I want to thank you again for sharing this moment of stillness with me.
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And I'll be back next week with the final episode in our October series,
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one that will bring everything together with grace and boldness.
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So until next time, dear listeners, I want you to continue to live boldly in your power today.
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And if it gets tough, just breathe.
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You still got the strength to rise.
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So I want you to remember to just be still.
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Until next time, dear listeners.
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Continue to live in your power. you.