Entering 2025 felt like stepping into a new season. I began the year with a new job and a simple prayer in my heart—“Lord, let this be a year of growth and faith in action.” I imagined myself becoming more present in church, more involved in fellowship, and more engaged in community. I thought this new work would open the space for that and allow me to continue my journey of Christian women spiritual growth.
However, what I didn’t anticipate was how deeply this year would stretch me—emotionally, spiritually, and in everyday life. Instead of the extra time and energy I hoped for, I found myself exhausted—pulled in directions I hadn’t expected. What I thought would help me grow in ministry ended up humbling me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. What I thought would make me more available to God actually brought me to the end of myself. And in that breaking, I realized: this was part of God’s spiritual stretching and surrender.
When Expectations Break: Lessons in Spiritual Growth for Christian Women
I came from a job where I was thriving—excellent, productive, confident. I knew shifting into a new environment meant unlearning, relearning, and adjusting to a new culture. I knew growth wouldn’t be easy.
But I still expected it to feel manageable. Predictable. Smooth.
Instead, I hit walls I didn’t expect. I questioned God often:
“Lord, did I lack prayer?”
“Did I miss Your discernment?”
“Did I mishear Your wisdom?”
“Did I make a mistake?”
Day after day, I wrestled with doubt, insecurity, and confusion—but I kept moving forward in faith. Even in my groaning, I felt God’s presence. Every day, there was just enough strength—just enough grace—to go on. He didn’t remove the difficulty, but He made sure I was never alone in it.
His sustenance didn’t always come dramatically. Sometimes it came through quiet moments of clarity. Sometimes through people. Sometimes through silence that steadied me. But He was there. Always there. This has been a key part of my faith journey 2025.
When Your Calling Is Shaken: Women’s Ministry Inspiration
For many years, I saw myself as an encourager—someone called to build safe spaces for the women in our church. God planted in my heart a vision of sisterhood, healing, and shared growth. And the ministry did grow, expanding to younger women. But after a painful season that triggered old traumas, I withdrew. I told myself I could serve from behind the scenes.
I told myself that was enough.
Then this year, God brought me back to 1 Corinthians 14:40—
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
But that clarity also made others uncomfortable. And when the shaking came, my confidence dissolved. My direction blurred. My heart broke. I doubted myself. I doubted my calling. I doubted if I truly heard God right.
Yet again, I went back to prayer.
And in His mercy, God showed me—in visions, in whispers, in Scripture—how He had molded me through years of agony and years of victory for this exact purpose. He showed me the patterns, the shaping, the molding, the refining.
I felt both weak and corrected. But this time, though fear still lingered… I knew for sure:
I am not alone in this calling. He is with me.
This has been a profound lesson in overcoming fear and doubt and embracing God’s calling and purpose.
Walking Into a New Season With Surrender
One guiding principle carried me through every stretching moment:
“Walk through the door God opened, and pray as you go.”
In my life, God rarely changes the door—but He often changes my heart and my prayer. Sometimes, I even get scolded for my stubbornness. That’s why studying His Word matters to me. Without Scripture, there is no way to say for sure that I have received confirmation.
If God is stretching you, He will sustain you. He will provide. He will clarify.
As I turn the page into a new season, I feel more surrendered than ever. My perfectionism and people-pleasing tendencies still challenge me, but I am now armed with clarity and conviction.
The opposition may come. The challenges will come. But my confidence is anchored not in my skills— but in the God who called me.
My skills are merely tools.
My strength is in Him.
My security is in Him.
My story is held by Him.
As 2025 comes to a close, I reflect on a year that stretched me beyond my expectations—through challenges, doubts, and moments of quiet grace. Every season of surrender and every lesson in courage has shaped my faith and strengthened my resolve. Entering 2026, I step forward with the courage to continue what God has begun in me, remaining deeply rooted, firmly anchored, and fully established in Him. May this new year be a season of growth, clarity, and steadfast joy for all who walk in His presence.
Prayer Prompts & Journal Prompts for Your Own Season of Stretching
“Learning deepens when we pause long enough to write what the heart has noticed.”
If you’re experiencing your own season of stretching, these can help you sit with God and reflect deeply.
This is a reflection of spiritual growth reflections with prayer prompts for Christian women navigating faith and work.
✨ Prayer Prompts
1. Prayer for Strength in Transition
“Lord, strengthen me as I walk into new and unfamiliar territory. Let Your presence be my confidence.”
2. Prayer for Clarity of Calling
“Reveal my purpose, Lord. Align my desires with Your direction.”
3. Prayer for Courage When Expectations Fail
“When things don’t go my way, help me see Your hand at work and give me courage to continue.”
4. Prayer for Healing From Past Wounds
“Heal the hurts that make me withdraw. Restore me so I can serve with a whole heart.”
5. Prayer for Surrender
“Father, I surrender my fears, timelines, and limitations. Let Your will be done in my life.”
Journal Prompts for Reflection & Soul-Work
1. What expectations did I have for this year that didn’t happen? How did that affect me?
2. In what ways is God stretching me right now?
3. Where have I seen God sustain me even when I felt exhausted or discouraged?
4. What past experiences influence how I respond to my calling?
5. What is God asking me to be strong and courageous about today?
6. What open doors am I afraid to walk through? Why?
7. What do I need to surrender so I can follow God more fully?
8. What Scripture speaks to my season right now? What is it teaching me?
Final Encouragement
As a reminder that you are never alone in your stretching season, let this verse anchor your heart:
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
As we walk through seasons of stretching and surrender, caring for our minds is just as important as nurturing our spirits. A healthy mind helps us hear God more clearly, respond with patience, and embrace His guidance with peace. To support your mental and emotional well-being alongside your spiritual journey, take a moment to explore our article on keeping a healthy mind and discover gentle ways to nurture your heart and thoughts.
- A Year of Stretching: How God Shaped My 2025 Through Calling, Courage, and Surrender
- 10 Ways To Keep A Healthy Mind
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- From Anxious to Anchored: Finding Strength at Rock Bottom
- Quarantine Realization: Another Covid Journal
Has God been stretching your faith this year? We would love to hear your testimony! Submit your story to Delighted Woman and inspire other women on their journey of faith, courage, and surrender. Your experience could be the encouragement someone else needs to trust God more deeply.