This old adage, from a tale about a frog trying to get out of a deep well by climbing its stone wall, may be something you can relate to. I know I can. Early this year, for example, I experienced two quite large steps forward in my life. Four months later several significant issues — financial, health, etc, — arose.  

I fell back on old habits of of thinking I had to control everything so I could fix the problems and of trying one thing and another, resulting in either no change at all or in matters worsening. I developed an upper respiratory “thing” — five long weeks of coughing, congestion, and nearly-sleepless nights that left me physically depleted. Emotionally, I was at my lowest since my husband passed away.

Thankfully, I was reminded of sound principles I had been ignoring and began putting them into practice: daily Bible study, daily meditation and journaling. One issue showed some improvement but wasn’t resolved. The financial issue and health issue remained virtually unchanged.

What did change was my perspective. I felt at peace, confident that I was doing what I should be doing and trusting God to do what He knew was best.

And then, last week brought another trial. The six-month-ago me would immediately have begun scrambling, trying to figure out how to fix the problem.

Instead, I’m doing nothing, completely at peace with the fact that it’s not my place to control or attempt to fix a single thing. It’s taken several decades, but I’ve finally accepted that when trials arise, my job is to simply be submissive and obedient to God.

And I consider that one gigantic step forward.

Can you relate? Maybe you’ve also experienced the “two steps forward and one step backward” phenomenon or have come to some realizations and made changes in your life. I’d love to hear your thoughts via a comment below. Thank you for stopping by!