Unstuck: Finding God's Purpose When Life Feels Stagnant

We dig into the common experience of feeling stuck in a rut while balancing family, career, ministry, and life's unexpected turns, exploring what God says about moving forward and finding renewed purpose.

• Personal story of reconnecting with friends and discovering one friend feeling stuck after transitioning from single life to multiple roles
• Cultural messaging that mothers must abandon personal dreams debunked through biblical examples
• Biblical women who overcame feeling stuck: Ruth, Esther, Hannah, Proverbs 31 woman, and Deborah
• Testimony of personal journey through career changes and discovering God's purpose through detours
• Encouragement that seasons of uncertainty are divine setups for something greater
• Challenge to journal about what's stirring in your heart and take one small step toward that dream

Don't forget our Amiga, Ready to Read Your Bible study group meets every Wednesday night at 7:30, and tickets for She's Bold Women's Conference on May 2nd are still available. Grab a copy of my book "MAMI on a Mission: A Guide Towards Healing, Self-Discovery and Walking in Confidence" on Amazon.

Resources Mentioned:

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EmpowerHer Purpose Program

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Grab your Copy of my book MAMI on a Mission - A Guide Towards Healing, Self-Discovery and Walking in Confidence

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Chapters

• 0:00 Feeling Stuck in a Rut
• 2:01 Reconnecting with Old Friends
• 4:57 Personal Journey Through Motherhood
• 8:25 Discovering Purpose Beyond Expectations
• 12:08 Biblical Women Who Overcame Feeling Stuck
• 19:29 Taking Small Steps Forward
• 22:31 Closing Prayer and Call to Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome back, amigas, to another episode on Mommy on a Mission podcast, and this week we are going to be tackling a topic that so many of us can relate to feeling stuck in a rut. Have you ever felt like you're doing all the things balancing family, career, ministry and life's unexpected turns but still feel lost, uncertain or just plain stuck? If that's you, stick around, because we're about to dig into what God says about moving forward, finding purpose and reigniting your passion. So grab your cafecito, get comfortable and let's get into today's episode. And let's get into today's episode. Welcome to the Mommy on a Mission podcast. I'm Mariana, your host and the number one bestselling author of Mommy on a Mission a guide towards healing, self-discovery and walking in confidence. As a dedicated life coach, wife, mom yaya and, most importantly, daughter of the king, I am passionate about empowering multifaceted women just like you. In each episode, we dive deep into transformative topics that help you reignite your passion and purpose. My unique approach is designed to help you overcome the fear of external expectations and create the space and time you need for both increased job satisfaction and personal growth. Join me on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment as we explore practical strategies, inspiring stories and actionable insights. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of life and emerge stronger, more confident and truly aligned with our deepest desires. Welcome to the Mom in a Mission podcast, your go-to resource for living a more purposeful and fulfilling life. So grab your tazza cafe y vamos a platicar.

Speaker 1: 2:01

So this past weekend, I had the absolute joy of catching up with some of my amigas. Through laughter and tears, we shared the ways our lives have changed. It had been a while since we were able to get together, and so one of the ladies actually reached out to us and said hey, you know, I'd really like to just sit with you all and catch up and see how things are going. I mean, like, I follow you all on Facebook and Instagram, but it's not the same, and I try to tell people that all the time that, yes, you can see what other people are up to, but it's when you have real conversations, is when you really get to know what's happening in people's lives. Right, we get to pick up on where we left off, and so this past weekend, like I said, we did. We were able to sit down. We went to Olive Garden.

Speaker 1: 3:00

We all three live a distance away, so we all used to work together at one of the nonprofit organizations and we all lived close by and in fact we used to do movie night together with one other co-worker. Actually, she would open up her house once a month or every so often and invite us over and we would kind of like, do this little potluck thing, nothing major, and we would just sit and watch TV and just kind of laugh and talk and all these good things. And then life happened. One of you know I, was already married with children, but the other they were all single. One was one was a single mother, the other two were just, you know, single, no children, no, nothing. And we all just got together and so one now lives in Florida, the other one, you know. The other two have moved north Houston, but in different parts of Houston, and so we just felt like you know what it's been a while, let's just all get together and see how everybody's doing so as you would have it. You know, two of us have stepped into discipleship and what I like to call business trees. You know we have our businesses but incorporates, you know, businesses rooted in ministry. But one of our dear friends opened up about how she feels stuck. You know she went from single to suddenly juggling multiple roles like wife, mom, stepmom, all while grieving the loss of her parents, because in 2020, she lost both parents to COVID. And so she's just trying to balance her career and she's asking what's next? How do I move forward, amiga? Have you ever been there Feeling like life keeps piling on responsibilities, while your passion and purpose seems unclear? So let's take a moment. What would you say if someone asked you what do you truly want right now? Take a deep breath. Is there something that's been stirring in your heart? But you're afraid to move forward? So I've shared this before, but I'm going to share it again. For those of you who are new to the podcast and, by the way, I'm Mariana, your host I recall earlier in my life I knew that I wanted to help people.

Speaker 1: 5:31

So when I was in high school, I knew that I had a knack for helping people. It just came naturally to me to find resources and just anytime anybody would ask something, it's like I don't know like my mind would retain information and I'd be like oh yeah, you know you could. I heard about this and I heard about that, and that was all before I got into my career. But growing up, I was taught to be a housewife and not expect anything more than that. So college wasn't something that was encouraged, because my mother didn't understand it.

Speaker 1: 6:09

She, too, was raised to be a homemaker, and so, when my father passed away, she found herself feeling lost, desiring more, but not knowing what that even looked like. In fact, she got into, she was forced into a role that she was not familiar with the role of taking care of a family, in the sense of financial responsibility, fell on her. She had to pay bills, she had to, you know, handle when things went wrong at the house, all of the things that my dad would do. Now my mom was having to do, where, at one point, my mom was a homemaker. She took care of us, she made sure the laundry was done, she made sure we had our meals, whatever it is that we needed. She was there to step in and help out, and my dad was the sole provider. Well, as you would know it, that was a lot. That was a lot for her to take in, right.

Speaker 1: 7:11

And then, years later, I found myself in that same mindset. I knew that there had to be more to life, and after leaving my second marriage, I realized that I needed to chase after the purpose that God placed in my heart. And that was like I said. I was raised to be a homemaker, and so I knew how to clean, I knew how to cook, I knew how to do all these things Right. But it was when I was in my second marriage, because I had been a single mom once before. But it was different. It was different because of my dad's death came a trust fund and so I had money. So it wasn't like we were struggling, it was just a matter of taking care of things.

Speaker 1: 7:59

But when you were young and you've never had an understanding of financial literacy, you can squander away your money. And that's exactly what happened. My money got squandered away because no one actually taught me about those responsibilities, about really how to handle all of those responsibilities Not even my own mother, because she didn't even know that herself. So how was she going to have conversations with me about things like that when I didn't even know I mean, when she didn't even know how to handle all of that? All I know is all she knew is that she came across money yes, she was able to pay bills and stuff like that but to really invest the money or to really learn how to handle. It was all new territory for her. For her, so if that was new for her, then it was new for me, and so, as a young wife who's never had any true responsibility, I pretty much just took the lead and didn't give my husband the space to be a husband my first husband. So we were just really young, really learning this thing, and so it was going to take years later to fully understand what our true roles were in that aspect.

Speaker 1: 9:12

So when I got married to my second husband, although I still had some money, he would step into that role of being husband, so to speak, like he had that persona to lead, but in reality he did not know how to lead a household. He did not know how to truly take care of a household. He fell into addiction. He fell into, you know, messing up his life, and that was hard. So when I became a single mother and no longer had that financial means that I used to have, is when I learned that that what it was to fully be responsible for not only myself but myself and my children. And so what happens is you get all caught up because you're so busy You're having to take care of a household. You have to pay the bills, you have to make sure the car is maintained, you have to make sure that everything is in order, take the kids to the doctor, take myself to the doctor, make sure that they go to school, make sure that they have what they need. I mean, all of the responsibilities fell on me, and so I was also taught that, once you become a mother, you no longer have dreams.

Speaker 1: 10:39

And, in matter of fact, this morning I was watching something on either on TikTok or Instagram. It was one of those and it was about the. It was about a singer's life, and I remember that it was her and her mom speaking and how she wanted to venture off into her career, her singing career, into her career, her singing career. And the mom's like, no, you can't do that Because and she was like, well, why not? You know, he gets to go off, the father of the kids gets to go off and live out his dreams, but I can't do that. And she said, no, you can't, you're a mom, you're the mother. You no longer have dreams.

Speaker 1: 11:20

And I thought to myself how many times have I heard that in my life and in our culture how that was believed, that because you were a mom, that you couldn't have do it before you had kids. But once you became a mom and had kids, that was it. Your dreams no longer existed. Now you have to allow your children to live and to allow your children to have their dreams and, you know, realize their dreams. But that is over for you. But that's so not true, because we can still have our dreams, we can still have our aspirations. Why? Because God has given that to us right. So God allowed me to take a detour into, I mean, god allowed my experiences in life and the things that I was going through to be able to go back to school and get the career, and even though I wanted to be a social worker when I was in high school and that didn't happen, because, again, I believe that now that I became a mom and a wife, that my dreams didn't matter anymore, I stopped going to school altogether, going to school altogether.

Speaker 1: 12:46

And when I did turn 30 and I did start going back to school, then God allowed me a way to go to school and to pursue my dreams, and while working, while going to school and while taking care of my children. I discovered that through Christ and while taking care of my children, I discovered that through Christ, I can do all things right. He's going to make a way, he's going to open up possibilities in order for us to be able to carry out the things that I wanted to carry out. And so, from there, there was a reigniting of a passion that I have and that was to help people. Passion that I have and that was to help people.

Speaker 1: 13:24

And so, lo and behold, as I was working, and then I got my degree and we got, I got laid off, an opportunity. You know, after two weeks of being laid off, I started looking for work and start looking for work and applying and doing all this. And then I saw this position for a caseworker or a coach, and I applied for it and they hired me to become an employment coach. And that is when I realized that I was doing exactly what it was that I wanted to do fall into that passion, that career, that calling of working with people and, most importantly, to be able to work with women who felt the same way that I once did. And I thought, oh my God. And then, that's not even all.

Speaker 1: 14:15

During COVID, god also allowed me to take a detour into another passion working with animals. Because I remember, too, that I wanted to either work with animals or work with people, because I loved both so much. And so I was able to become a certified veterinary assistant, which was something that I wanted to do, and, even though it was just for a season, what it did was it reignited something within me. So, even in 2022, when I was laid off, an opportunity arose, but it wasn't the right one, because I took it out of desperation. I wasn't trusting God in that moment, so I just jumped at the first thing and three months later, that door closed. I resigned because I knew that that's not what I wanted to do, and that allowed me that moment to be able to start Mommy on a Mission, mommy on a Mission the business. So again, today I am walking in purpose, but it took stepping out in faith and letting God show me the way.

Speaker 1: 15:27

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Speaker 1: 16:15

So now what we're going to do is we're going to shift a little bit, because what we're going to do is we're going to talk about the women in the Bible who also felt stuck, and the Bible is filled with women who at some point probably felt stuck. So let's look at a few. The first one that came to mind was Ruth. Ruth lost her husband. She had no children and could have easily stayed in a cycle of grief, but she didn't. She stepped out into an unknown future, following Naomi and trusting God's plan. Ruth's obedience positioned her to be part of Jesus's lineage, proving that our lowest moments can lead to divine purpose.

Speaker 1: 17:01

And then we have Esther. She was placed in a position of power but didn't know how to move forward. She faced fear and uncertainty, but when she sought God, she found her purpose. Her courage saved an entire nation, showing that stepping out in faith can have a ripple effect beyond what we imagine. And then there's Hannah. She deeply desired a child and year after year, she felt stuck in disappointment. But through persistent prayer and faith, she gave birth to Samuel, one of the greatest prophets. Hannah's story teaches us that unanswered prayers are not rejects, rejections, but redirections towards something greater.

Speaker 1: 17:53

And then, of course, you have Proverb 31, the Proverb 31 woman often referred to as the ideal woman. She wasn't just a homemaker. She was an entrepreneur, a provider, a leader in her household and a woman of faith. She managed multiple roles, much like today's multifaceted woman, just like you and me, who balance career, family, finances and faith. Her life reminds us that women are capable of thriving in multiple areas, using wisdom and diligence to create a life of purpose.

Speaker 1: 18:31

And then, lastly, we have Deborah. Deborah was a judge, a prophetess, a warrior. Deborah had to lead in a time when women weren't given much authority. She could have felt overwhelmed by expectations, but she stepped boldly into her God given role, and her story encourages us to embrace leadership even in spaces where we feel inadequate. And so, like these women, god is not done with you, amiga. He's working behind the scenes, even when you can't see it. Your current season of uncertainty is not a dead end. It's not. It's a divine setup for something so much greater. So keep trusting, keep seeking and know that he is preparing you for the next step in your journey.

Speaker 1: 19:29

And so, before we wrap up, I want to challenge you this week. I'd like for you to take five minutes to journal about what's been stirring in your heart and what's one small step you can take toward that dream or calling. And, if you don't mind, share it with me on social media. I'd like to cheer you on. I want to make sure that I know it so that I can pray for you. And, if you don't put it in, if you don't follow me on social media, I'm on Instagram at Mommy on a Mission Podcast, or you can find me on Facebook at Mommy on a Mission Podcast, or you can even comment. If you've got Apple Podcasts, you can leave me a comment, or if you're on Spotify, you can leave me a comment. But let me know what's that one small step that you are going to take toward that dream or calling. Okay, so journal about that. So I want to thank you, amiga, so much for spending time with me today and if this episode blessed you, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with another Amiga who might need this encouragement. And don't forget our amiga ready to read your Bible Bible study group. It meets every Wednesday night at 730. And the tickets for she's Bold Women's Conference on May 2nd are still on sale, so don't miss your place.

Speaker 1: 20:49

Okay, so let me go ahead and close this out with a prayer, Father God, for the amiga that's listening today. Father God, for that amiga that's feeling stuck. Perhaps she feels like there has to be more to life than what I'm currently living Like. I'm just on that hamster wheel and don't know when to stop and get off. Father God, help me find, help her find, father God, that path that she needs to be on, father God, taking a detour, father God, into another area, perhaps an unfamiliar territory. Father God, that's going to bring out some new strengths, some new skill sets, some new gifts, some new talents. Father God, help my amiga reignite her passion.

Speaker 1: 21:31

Father God, whatever dreams that she put on the back burner, father God, I pray that you would just reveal them back to her. Father God, whatever dreams that she put on the back burner, father God, I pray that you would just reveal them back to her, father God, remind her of what those things were, father God, because we know that you have a purpose for each and every one of us, father, and we know that you are going to allow for us to be able to fulfill those. Even though there was a pause in our life, father God, you just seem to find a way, father God, to put us right back on track. So, father, I pray for my amiga right now, father God, I pray that, whatever it is that she's feeling right now, whatever fear, perhaps, or doubt or insecurity she may have to step into that dream or purpose, father God, that you would just ease her mind and ease her heart, father God, and provide her the answer that she needs. Father God, place the right people in her life that are going to help her, father God, not pull her back down, father God. And so what if she's a mother? So what if she's got all these things, father God? Because even as mothers can dream and even as mothers can have passions and purpose in our lives, father God, we know that even the calling of motherhood is a ministry, father God, and we don't take that lightly, father God, but we know that there's other things, other gifts and talents that we have, father God, that you have given us, father God, to serve a purpose. So we thank you, we love you and we ask this of you, father God, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Speaker 1: 23:04

Ok, amiga, so see you next Saturday on the Mommy on a Mission podcast. And, amiga, stay bold, stay faithful and keep walking in your God given purpose and keep walking in your God-given purpose. Thank you for tuning in to the Mommy on a Mission podcast. If you found today's episode inspiring, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with your amigas. And, before you go, if you're looking to dive deeper into healing, self-discovery and walking in confidence, be sure to grab a copy of my book Mommy on a Mission A Guide Towards Healing, self-discovery and Walking in Confidence, available now on Amazon. Stay connected with me on social media. Follow us on Instagram at MommyOnAMissionPodcast and on Facebook at MommyOnAMission. If you're considering working with a coach but aren't sure if you're ready, send me a DM and I will send you a free gift to help you get started on your journey. Until next Saturday, keep shining and remember the tower is within you. Adios, amigas.