How to Make the Most of Your ‘Season of Stagnation’

Ever felt like your life is on pause? The days when it looks like everyone else is moving forward while you’re stuck in the same place?

Whether it’s career delays, a spiritual dry spell, or unfulfilled dreams, seasons of stagnation can feel frustrating, confusing, and even purposeless. But what if this season isn’t punishment… but preparation?

While many lament and can even be depressed about such seasons, there is always another way to look at it—a better and a hopeful one. 

 Ready to discover the hidden blessings in your stillness? Let’s dive in and uncover how your season of stagnation could be God’s setup for your next breakthrough.

In this article, we’ll explore how to shift your perspective on stagnation and find meaning in what feels like a standstill. 

You’ll learn:

• Why stagnation doesn’t mean failure
• How biblical figures grew during their waiting seasons
• Practical ways to grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally when life seems slow
• How to discern God’s voice and purpose in stillness
• Encouraging Scriptures to anchor you through quiet seasons
• What feels like a pause might be God’s preparation

Let’s start with a paradigm shift on how we view stagnation. 

Why stagnation doesn’t mean failure

It’s easy to interpret a lack of visible progress as failure. But sometimes, the most significant internal work happens beneath the surface. 

You may not have landed a new job, received a promotion, or taken on new responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean you’re not growing.

Think of Joseph, stuck in prison for years, or Moses tending sheep in the wilderness for an extended period before leading a nation. God often uses these still seasons to develop skills, refine character, and prepare people for greater responsibilities. 

“Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s often a sign that growth is happening in places others can’t see”.

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Ellen G. White affirms this perspective:

“In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition. He does not permit us to pass by the homely but sacred duties that lie next us. Often these duties afford the very training essential to prepare us for a higher work. Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed.” —The Ministry of Healing, p. 473.

So, there is something even in our seasons of apparent stagnation. 

Use this time to:

• Reassess your current roles and responsibilities
• Strengthen your spiritual disciplines
• Improve professional and personal habits
• Clarify your values and goals

And remember: just because the world doesn’t applaud your progress doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Once we shift our mindset about stagnation, the next step is to examine how others in Scripture handled it and what we can learn from their journeys.

How biblical figures grew during their waiting seasons

The Bible is filled with people who waited. 

Abraham waited “forever” to have the promised heir. Noah built an ark for 100 years before the flood came. Joseph waited for 13 years—doing simple tasks and even serving a prison sentence—before being the prime minister of Egypt. David was anointed king long before he ruled. Even Jesus waited 30 years before beginning His ministry. 

These weren’t wasted years; they were essential for preparation, maturity, and alignment with God’s timing.

If you’re feeling undervalued or like your current job doesn’t align with your calling, remember that even biblical giants went through hidden seasons. And when their moment came, they were ready—not because they rushed the process, but because they grew through it.

Ellen White reminds us:

“We are never called upon to make a real sacrifice for God. Many things He asks us to yield to Him, but in doing this we are but giving up that which hinders us in the heavenward way. Even when called upon to surrender those things which in themselves are good, we may be sure that God is thus working out for us some higher good” —ibid., p. 473

Here’s what you can do during your waiting season:

• Revisit your career decisions in light of your faith and purpose
• Study the Word to gain clarity on the next season
• Communicate with mentors and spiritual leaders who can help you discern your path

But it’s not just about looking back at biblical figures. This season is also about being intentional in the present. So, let’s talk about how to actively grow in your season of waiting.

Practical ways to grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally when life seems slow

If you’re in a job that no longer excites you—or you’re consistently facing the same workplace challenges with no resolution—it’s time to shift the focus inward. 

Stagnation invites self-reflection. What internal patterns need healing? What emotional habits need strengthening?

Here are some growth strategies for this season:

• Identify your triggers: What makes you feel stuck or undervalued? Naming them is the first step to healing.
• Learn new skills: Whether related to your current work or a potential career change, continuous learning keeps you sharp and ready.
• Strengthen emotional resilience: Journaling, prayer, and professional counseling can all help.
• Take care of your physical health: Your body plays a significant role in your energy and mental clarity.

Stagnation isn’t the end. It’s an invitation to grow in areas you may have overlooked while chasing goals.

Ellen White encourages us with these words: 

“Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness—godlikeness—is the goal to be reached” —Education, p. 18.

So, no one is grown. We are all works in progress towards something greater. 

“Whatever stage we are in, there is always something better that calls for improvement in our skills and methods”.

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And speaking of overlooked areas, sometimes God uses stillness to fine-tune our ears to hear Him more clearly. Let’s look at how to discern His voice and purpose in this season.

How to discern God’s voice and purpose in stillness

One of the most critical aspects of this quiet season is learning to listen. 

It’s easy to get distracted by the noise of ambition, deadlines, and the pressure of career advancement. But God often whispers when we finally slow down.

Ask yourself:

• What lessons keep repeating in my life?
• What do I feel God nudging me to do or release?
• Who are the people or communities God is using to speak into my life?

This is the time to pay attention to the signs you may have missed in busier seasons. Maybe you’re overqualified in your current role, not because you’ve plateaued—but because it’s time to consider new responsibilities or even a different path.

Prayerfully consider:

• Joining a new team or ministry
• Volunteering for leadership roles that stretch your comfort zone
• Exploring career changes that align better with your purpose

As you begin to hear more clearly and grow more confidently, it becomes easier to anchor yourself in truth. Scripture becomes your roadmap.

Encouraging Scriptures to anchor you through quiet seasons

When advancement feels distant and your workplace feels like a dead-end, Scripture has a way of bringing comfort and clarity. 

Here are some verses to reflect on during your season of waiting:

• Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”(NKJV). Waiting isn’t a weakness. It’s spiritual strength training.
• James 1:4 – “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete…”(NIV). Your current season is part of God’s maturing process.
• Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God”(NKJV). Stillness invites intimacy with God.
• Romans 8:28 – “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (NKJV). Even stagnant seasons are working in your favour.

Keep these verses close when you need a reminder that your season is not in vain.

What feels like a pause might be God’s preparation

Feeling stuck, overlooked, or underutilised can be discouraging. But don’t rush to escape the discomfort. God may be using this period to grow something deep within you; something that doesn’t just lead to a job promotion or new title, but to true satisfaction, clear career direction, and lasting purpose.

So if you’re in a season of stagnation, consider this: perhaps you’re not stuck—you’re being still so God can move.

Ready to go deeper?

Explore our Employment & Career section for more Bible-based insights on finding purpose, navigating career change, and discerning what’s next.

Start with these helpful reads:

• A Capital That Young People Starting in Life Need Before They Need Money – Discover the essential character qualities and spiritual resources that matter far more than financial capital when building your life and career. You’ll learn why integrity, perseverance, and faith create a foundation that wealth alone cannot.
• The Power of Showing Up: Why Being Reliable Matters More Than Being Impressive – Explore how consistency and faithfulness in small things open the door to greater responsibilities, stronger relationships, and lasting influence. This read will inspire you to value reliability over image in both your personal and professional journey.

Each article offers practical wisdom, spiritual encouragement, and actionable steps to help you thrive—not just survive—through your current season. Share them with someone who might be feeling stuck; your encouragement could be the spark they need.