Seated to Stand... and Withstand

Sometimes you have to sit down to stand up.

In those seated times, the moments where you have been taken off your feet, God is doing something. He is inviting you to Him. He is shifting things in your life and cleaning you up. He is transforming you. Think of it as being in a cocoon season. You are metamorphosing. Change, development, and maturity are all taking place.

I know this because I speak from experience. This is my current reality.

I've been gone for a minute. Heavy on the minute. I was seated, not by choice, but so that I could stand up and withstand things to come. My faith was being strengthened. I was being stripped... of pride, protecting myself, false beliefs about myself and God, of idols, and things and people I put my trust in before God. He was cleaning me up. A very real response to my prayers that quoted Psalm 51:10 and Psalm 139:23-24.

I laugh now, but if you go to my last post, the one right before this one, I was starting a series about surrender. That was the first and only blog I posted for the series. One thing my pastor always says is when God has given him a word, it's something he's gone through or going through. Basically, you have to live what you're saying. And God definitely checked me on that. How was I to write about surrender when I had yet to surrender to Him? Lol. I had the second post written, reviewed, and ready to go. But God said, “NOPE, gon’ head and put that down... and sit your tail down.”

That was the start of a hard but necessary period. A pivotal point in my walk with God.

I can honestly say, since that point God began to do a work in me. One of uncovering, correction, revelation, affirming, comfort, releasing, renewal, establishing, healing, strengthening, and transformation. A mighty work was being done. It was uncomfortable. It was hard, certainly one of the hardest periods of my life. Having to face myself and deal with my past... having to deal with the deep sorrow I had and anger, unbeknownst to me, that bubbled under the surface like magma, were not for the weak.

I’m only able to stand because God has been with me through it all. As I trudged through the muck of my life, there He was. As the overcast began to break and joy began to shine through, He was there. And He is still here. Isaiah 41:10 reminds me that He is with me and my God, that He strengthens me, helps me, and upholds me with His righteous right hand.

A lot has happened over these 3 years.

I feel like I was going through the 5 stages of grief… denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance. Grieving the old me, the process, and the loss. I can say I am in the acceptance stage now. Two scriptures that helped and encouraged me when the reality of myself and my life were too hard, and shame and condemnation were getting licks in while jumping me, were Psalm 37:23-24, emphasis on verse 24, and Luke 22:31-32, emphasis on verse 32.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” – Psalm 23-24

"And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren'" – Luke 22:31-32

To be honest, I wanted to give up… many times. I wanted to stop and wallow in the shame, in the condemnation but those scriptures reminded me that I have an advocate, I have a present God who is with me. He intercedes, advocates, helps, and holds me up. He has never left nor forsaken me (Hebrews 13:5). Even in that time, which I consider one of the lowest and loneliest points of my life... He was still with me. Those scriptures also reminded me that restoration would come. I wouldn't be down indefinitely.

A lot is still happening… but I’m holding on and trusting in the One who never fails.

When you're seated, especially for a while, it gets uncomfortable. Same goes for when God sits you down, but it's necessary for the next step. In that time God either removes or put distance in relationships. He wants your relationship with Him to be front and center, so sometimes it may feel lonely. You may only have 1 or 2 people you're still connected to who encourage and support you in that time. Think Paul after the Damascus Road experience in Acts 9. God sent Ananias to him to encourage him and help his sight be restored.

Being in a fallen or seated state isn't supposed to last forever. Eventually you have to get up out of humility and obedience. Remaining in a fallen, or seated, state longer than you're supposed to will cause you to move from a place of humility to one of pride, which can be masked as false humility. Peter got up. Paul got up. David got up.

I got up.

I'm back now... standing and withstanding. Truthfully, there are still times where I sit for a reprieve. I see the necessity and beauty in being seated. Now that I’m back my goal is to give at least 1 post per month, but I won't make any promises. We see how that ended last time.

If you're in a season where you are in a seated position, don't fight it. Allow God to do the necessary and beautiful work in you. Let the weights be lifted and transformation happen. You are not alone; He is with you and can handle your feelings and deep emotions. Know being seated will only last for a moment, which might be years, but eventually you will stand back up… renewed, restored, and transformed. Standing, not in your own strength but from the strength of the One who is the strength of your life (Psalm 27:1).

Reflection questions and points:

If you are in a seated or an uncomfortable season, sit with God. Ask Him to reveal areas where you need change or strengthening. Reflect on how your behavior and mindset may have shifted from the beginning of this season to now. What changes have you noticed? Were they positive or negative?

Be mindful of those shifts and remember you are not navigating this alone. God is with you in this moment and will remain with you as you move forward. Lean on Him, call on Him, and don’t hesitate to ask for His guidance and help.

Grace, Peace, & Love

Referenced Scripture:

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?