I have spent the last 3 months stuck searching for a new calendar to help me stay organized and plan. Merging my life with a new agenda is a major commitment, and I didn’t want to rush to the altar with my money in hand. I wanted to make sure I chose the perfect planner as my partner to set me up for success.

My spiral-bound daily docket is my brain on paper. Without a visual layout of my day, I squander my time and miss essential deadlines.

I was still in the midst of my calendar quest last month when I attended a ministry meeting hosted by my friend Joannie. This gal is super-model gorgeous, speaks with grace, and seems incredibly put together at all times. I want to be her when I grow up.

But, that morning, I learned her life can be as chaotic and messed up as mine. Yep, she is human. In fact, she is one of my people. She gets my crazy. I knew this the moment she shared her frustration about forgetting to bring her calendar to the meeting.

“He wants me to commit to an event, but I somehow managed to misplace my calendar.” Joannie’s husband would have to wait because she’d left her brain at home. (Bruce and I have conversations just like this weekly. He will ask me if we have any free time over the next week, and I will ask him to go grab my planner. I need to see what’s already laid out on our agenda. If we are not at home, he is out of luck.)

“I need to see my squares.” Joannie explained. The 31 squares that designate each day the next month were carefully cultivated by her calendar. I nodded my head in agreement. The monthly spread in my planner is my strategic battle plan.

But then she paused and said something incredibly profound. “Lately, I realized I’ve spent way too much time reaching back and trying to fix the squares that have already slipped by. And, I am also looking forward to what is looming ahead with fear. But my feet are only planted on one square, and today is where I need to place all my attention.”

My friend is determined to stay in her square and steward it well. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, she wants to lift her hands in worship and see God’s wonder right where she is standing.

I realized I miss so much of God’s work in my life because I am not fully tending to my present square. I’m trying to put my feet in more than one place, and God didn’t design me for that duty. Only He transcends time and transforms seasons.

Maybe like me and my friend Joannie you are straddled between yesterday and tomorrow and feeling stuck. Here’s the thing: you can’t move forward unless your feet are firmly positioned in one place.

3 Steps to Take When You’re Stuck Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

Say Goodbye to Yesterday’s Disappointment

You cannot change events that have already transpired, but you can trust God will bring restoration and make all things new one day. His redemption is still at work, so you can rest because He is on the throne. Trust God with your story and stop trying to fix it.  

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, MSG)

Stop Catastrophizing Your Future

The enemy of your soul likes to plant lies in your heart and mind so that he can keep you paralyzed by fear. Don’t let him rent space in your head. When a crazy thought tries to take root in your thinking, uproot it and replace it with the Truth. God has thoughts of peace toward you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you.  

“So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don’t realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too.  So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.” (Matthew 6:31-34, VOICE)

Seize the Moment

Today is a gift, and you only get to experience it once. Don’t waste a single second. Make memories and make much of Jesus with your life.  

“Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God.” (Ephesians 5:16-17, Phillips)

Are you ready to stop worrying about the past and freaking out about the future? To help you quiet the crazy voices in your head and steward today well, I’ve created a worksheet with 3 coaching questions to help you work through mental roadblocks and get unstuck. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

When we surrender the past and stop worrying about the future, we will embrace full freedom in Christ and experience His fullness of joy right where we stand today. We will walk lighter and lean on God’s strength to direct our day moment by moment. As we move forward in faith, people will probably notice a new spring in our step, and we can point to Jesus and praise the One who delights in directing our path.

If you feel stuck, stop straddling your feet between two seasons and stand on today’s square.

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