Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Encouragement for When Your Dreams Hit a Detour
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Photo by julia caesar on unsplash
I started off 2023 hopeful that this would be the year that I
1) finish my book proposal
2) get an agent, and
3) *maybe even* get a publishing contract.
However, due to another endeavor that has consumed a large amount of my time and energy (it’s actually a really good thing, but it’s a story for another day), zero of these three things have happened yet.
And at this point, I’m not sure when they will. (Well, I think I can probably complete my proposal in the next few months—but as to finding an agent and publisher…I’m thinking that’s probably going to come later.)
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
About a month or two ago, I was cleaning the kitchen in our Airbnb and thinking about how this dream has been put on hold and wondering when it will come to pass.
As I pondered, I felt God drop these words into my spirit: Slow and steady wins the race.
Immediately, I recalled the story of the tortoise and the hare, from which this proverb originates. As you probably know, this fable tells of a tortoise and hare who competed in a race against each other. Given his naturally greater speed, the hare was confident he would win. However, due to his slow-but-steady perseverance, the tortoise emerged as the victor.
RUN IN SUCH A WAY AS TO GET THE PRIZE
Each of us has been given a calling—our own personal race to run. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, the apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (NIV).
We should be serious about running—and winning—the unique race God has set before each of us. But through the example of the tortoise, I felt God encouraging me that when it comes to my personal race, particularly the part of my race that pertains to book publishing, being the fastest is not what matters most.
What counts is faithful perseverance—and right now, that looks like embracing the divine detour God has me on while also honoring my calling to write by slowly but surely making little bits of progress where I can.
GOD’S PERFECT PACE
Holding my published book in my hands might take longer than I expected, but that is okay. There is a time for everything, and sometimes (okay, maybe a lot of the time) God’s timing differs from ours. What seems slow to us is often the perfect pace from a heavenly perspective.
How about you? Are you working toward a goal but things are taking longer than you thought they would?
I’d like to encourage you with the words God spoke to me: Slow and steady wins the race.
Don’t give up, but also don’t worry about how fast you’re progressing. Trust God to lead you at the perfect pace. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit—not hurry or hustle—that will ensure you bear beautiful fruit at the proper time!
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here or through the comment section below!
In purpose and faith,
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