Years ago, in the midst of burnout, I came to God seeking direction for my next steps. Faced with career options, I chose the one that seemed most stable and financially secure. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t what He had truly called me to do. Twice, I made this decision—choosing comfort over calling, running from what He had placed on my heart. Whether it was complacency, self-doubt, or fear, I avoided stepping into the place God called me to.

Then, as I settled into what felt like the best team I had ever been part of, the company announced an acquisition. Overnight, I became part of an organization with over 78,000 employees. I felt small, unseen, and disconnected. For three years, I remained, even when God pressed me to transition again. I ignored His nudging, so He had to push me out. A layoff forced me to sit still and face the reality of what He had been speaking all along.

In that stillness, I wrestled with grief (loss of my mom and of miscarriage), depression, and uncertainty. Yet, God BLESSED our family to rest and realign. I paused in 2024. I prayed for clarity. I sought His vision. I chronicled my conversations with Him, asking, “What now, Lord?”

The Whale Moment

One night, reading Jonah and the Whale to my son, I paused mid-sentence and said, "I think I got swallowed by the whale!" It hit me just like that.

See, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah, a prophet, disobeyed God's command to go to the city of Nineveh and preach to its people. He, instead fleed by ship, when a storm arose. Jonah admits his disobedience and is thrown overboard, swallowed by a large fish where he repents and prays to God. After three days, the fish vomits Jonah onto land, and he finally goes to Nineveh.

Jonah ran from God’s calling to go to Nineveh , and so had I. He ended up in the belly of a fish, and I had been swallowed up by my own circumstances (and a huge company), avoiding what I knew God was leading me toward. Jonah repented, was spit onto dry land, and finally obeyed. I realized I needed to do the same.

But just as Jonah had to confront his own biases toward Nineveh, I had to confront my own heart. Even when Nineveh repented, Jonah was still upset that God showed them mercy. I had presumed what my next season would look like—but God was asking me to shift my heart, to process and heal before stepping forward.

A Season of Sabbatical and Soil Preparation

This is why I call this period my sabbatical—a time of rest, healing, and preparation. The word sabbatical comes from Sabbath, a time set apart for God. My journey wasn’t just about waiting; it was about working with God—letting Him till the soil of my heart, uproot what needed to be removed, and plant new seeds of faith and purpose.

Gardening has taught me so much about God’s timing. Right now, I feel like I’m in the transition from winter to spring. And in Georgia, that transition is unpredictable—some days are warm and hopeful, others are cold and harsh. Life often feels the same way. Seasons don’t always shift smoothly, but they are guaranteed to change.

The Work Beneath the Surface

Winter may seem barren, but underground, life is preparing. The soil is healing, the roots are growing stronger, and new things are forming—unseen but alive. This is what God does in our waiting seasons. If we don’t allow Him to prepare our soil—tilling, refining, and restoring—we won’t be ready for what He wants to bloom in us.

And here’s the truth: If we resist, if we remain unaligned, the season will cycle back again. God’s purposes don’t disappear. If we don’t walk in obedience, we may find ourselves facing the same lesson again, another winter, another time of preparation.

But this time, I’m stepping into obedience. I know the seeds are already planted. I know the fruit is coming. And I trust that when the harvest arrives, it will be in His perfect timing.

Where are you in your season? Are you in winter, waiting? Are you in spring, preparing? Or are you resisting your Nineveh, avoiding what God is calling you toward? No matter where you are—know this:

He is faithful. He will not forsake you. And your season will shift.