Do you ever look around at what everyone else is doing and wonder what’s holding you back? You’re showing up. You’re doing your best. You’re trying to love others well. But deep down, there’s this quiet frustration, like you want to make progress but something’s in the way. You’ve been waiting. Praying. Hoping for a spark. But maybe what’s holding you back isn’t a lack of effort. Maybe it’s a belief you didn’t even realize you’d picked up.
Over the years, I’ve noticed five subtle beliefs that sabotage growth…ones that show up quietly in the lives of women like you and me. They sound reasonable. Sometimes even spiritual. But they can keep us circling the same questions without moving forward.
If you’ve been wondering what’s holding you back, these five beliefs might be the reason.
Let’s name them together.
1. Waiting for Clarity Before You Act
You might feel like you need to be absolutely sure before taking a step. You pray, research, and ask for confirmation, hoping God will make things crystal clear before you move. But what if clarity is something that comes after obedience, not before it?
Think of Abraham, who left everything without knowing where he was going. Or Peter, who stepped onto the water without a guarantee it would hold. The Bible is full of people who obeyed before they understood.
If you’re still asking, “What’s holding me back?” maybe it’s the belief that you can’t act until you’re sure. I know I’ve fallen for it many times. But sometimes the next right thing is already in front of you. Quiet, simple, faithful.
2. Believing Your Purpose Has to Be Obvious
It’s easy to think that if your purpose were real, it would be obvious. Clear. Confirmed with a capital “C.” But as much as I hate it, most of the time, purpose shows up more like a breadcrumb trail than a neon sign.
You have a purpose, even if it’s not grand or headline-worthy. Scripture says you were created to do good works, ones God prepared in advance for you. That includes the quiet things. The small things. The overlooked things.
Don’t wait for a big announcement. Start with what’s in your hands. If you’re asking, “What’s holding me back?” this might be it: the idea that calling has to be dramatic to be real.
A line in The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon made me pause the other day. It said, “Everyone’s out there trying to find their purpose when all you have to do is find the bigger purpose in the here and now and your purpose will find you.”
3. Waiting to Feel Ready Instead of Starting Small
“Once I (insert excuse here), I’ll try.” That thought feels protective, even wise. I’ve heard it so many times. Heck, I’ve said it so many times. But confidence isn’t the starting line. Most of the time, it’s what shows up after you’ve taken a step.
The women I admire most didn’t feel ready when they started. They felt nervous, unsure, unqualified. But they moved forward anyway.
If you’re wondering, “What’s holding me back?” it might be this. Someone once told me, “If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never start.” And we use it for everything. Why we aren’t having kids, or applying for that job, or trying the new thing. The feeling of being ready sometimes only grows once you start. You don’t need to feel fearless. But you do need to be faithful.
4. Thinking You Have to Earn Rest
Here’s a sneaky belief that stunts us more than we realize. We think rest is a reward for those who’ve earned it. That once you’ve worked hard enough, checked enough boxes, then you’ll deserve a break. But God built rest into the rhythm of creation. It’s not a prize. It’s a necessity, even a command.
When you rest, you’re not quitting. You’re trusting. Trusting that God is still working even when you’re not. Trusting that your worth isn’t tied to your output.
If you’ve been asking, “What’s holding me back?” maybe it’s the fear that slowing down means falling behind. But what if rest is exactly the way forward? Remember in school when you’d study for something, and feel like you just couldn’t get something to stick? Then you’d take a break, and when you came back, you had it? Years ago, I saw my brother do it while working on a car. He spent hours trying to figure out what the problem was. Then, he walked away for awhile. When he came back, he immediately knew what it was, and it was fixed within the hour.
5. Believing Your Stuck Season Disqualifies You
Maybe you’ve been in a dry season for so long, you’ve started to wonder if God moved on without you. Is it too late for you? Did you miss your window?
But God isn’t tapping His foot, waiting for you to figure it out. He’s still here. Still patient. Still making a way.
Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing… do you not perceive it?” Even in the places that feel barren or forgotten, God is planting something new.
If you’re asking, “What’s holding me back?” this could be it…believing that being stuck means you’re too late. But friend, if you’re still breathing, God’s still working.
What’s Holding You Back: A Quiet Invitation
If even one of these hit home, let that be your cue to pause. Not to panic or overcorrect, but to notice. To identify what’s been in the background, what’s holding you back and invite God into it.
Next Step:
Choose the one belief that hit hardest. Write it down. And then write the truth underneath it. Keep it somewhere you’ll see it this week.
Related Posts:
When God Is Silent: How to Stay Grounded When You’re Not Hearing Much Back
How to Start Over When You’re Stuck (Even If You Don’t Have a Plan)
Books Mentioned:
The Energy Bus- Jon Gordon
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