4 Ways God Conquers Your Rut

Despite Your Mistakes, God Has a Plan

I used to think every time I forgot to tythe, or fell into a bad habit like drinking wine on a weeknight (3 boys people…no judgement) that God wouldn’t bless my plans. I think lots of us forget about God’s grace and convince ourselves we have to perform our way to blessings. “Ugh she went for the pinot again, forget that promotion!” When we feel we’re stuck in a holding pattern, it’s not because God’s not hearing our prayers, or we’re being punished. Many times God’s working behind the scenes, getting things in order. The key is trusting him, instead of worrying you’ll be single forever, struggling with disobedient kids, or struggling to pay your mortgage.

Your Rut is Temporary

When you’re waiting for a big answer from God, it can be so frustrating when faithfully praying and seeing zero results. Your early-rut prayers that start off with a bang, claiming God’s A-Z promises are eventually reduced to “Oh Lord, throw me a bone,” by month six. I went through such a magical season of “failed prayers” after trying to re-enter the workforce after child-rearing, being ignored for what seemed like eternity. After the 20th rejection I felt like I was applying for jobs post-prison, not coming off of four years of childrearing. I wasn’t doing time for second degree assault, I birthed babies, people. I was about to fire bomb a former place of employment ignoring my emails when God intervened at month number seven. My dream job posted on the worldwide web, and I was hired instantly. God puts up with our whining, sees the big picture, and closes doors for good reasons.

Our Ruts Change Our Bad Attitudes

During the aforementioned job-hunt of horror, our one-income lifestyle was not cutting it, and my refusal to put my babies in daycare led me with two very dire money-making options. Since prostitution clearly violated my spiritual standards the only thing left was night waitressing at an uppity grille/wine bar, resurrecting skills I hadn’t used since my TGI Friday days in college. God used this frightful season to refine me of all pride, as I assumed my college degree and willingness to lower myself to blue collar status would lead to a quick embrace by the serving community I now called home. However after incriminating myself by admitting I had no clue about the origin of Malbec, and I indeed use a ‘bunny ears’ wine opener at home, l was quickly labeled an uncultured savage with no passion for the industry.

I was ostracized and sometimes openly mocked by the entire childless, twenty-something staff, which only worsened after asking the chef what kind of cheese was used to make the burrata cheese sashimi (Burrata is a cheese…who knew). Now I enjoy my vino as much as the next sister, but these people talked about dark tannins like they’ve discovered life on Mars. You know we’ll flush this out in six hours, right? Even worse was witnessing the continual disappointment conveyed by my guests, hoping for the service of a stellar wine connoisseur, not a mommy gripping Bordeaux between her legs…”just…one…more second guys, tough cork!!” It was six months of this kind of torture before God rescued me with another job, but when I came out was more humble, meek and grateful for office life than ever imaginable. You want the report by tomorrow? My friggin’ pleasure.

Your Rut Will Make Your Trust Him

What other option is there, really. You’ve been living with your parents for nine months with your husband and kids waiting for that house to sell and if you have to share one more tense meal with Nana telling your kids to eat up, you’re gonna apply for residency status at the Marriot. Time to trust. God wants us to succeed and overcome. He’s not sitting back with freshly buttered popcorn waiting to see how many times it’ll take your mother reminding you to turn the lights off before you officially breakdown. He just wants you to rely on him for guidance and strength, knowing he has the power and resources to get you out of whatever situation you’re in. His word says to praise him during the trials, thanking him ahead of time for transporting you from sleeping in the bedroom you roof-jumped from as a wayward teen, to your long-awaited dream home. Amen, let’s stand.