Episode 45
45 | Struggling With God’s Timing? How to Surrender Without Staying Stuck
Are you a Catholic mom who wants to follow God’s plan — but feels stuck waiting for clarity about your purpose?
In this Advent mini-series Prepare Him Room, we’re talking about surrendering God’s timing without staying stuck. Many Catholic women believe discernment means praying and waiting — yet waiting can feel frustrating when you’re longing to move forward.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What surrendering God’s timing actually means
- Why discernment doesn’t require putting your life on hold
- How to trust God while still taking faithful action
- A simple Catholic devotional practice that helps you release control and find peace
If you’re seeking discernment, longing to hear God’s voice, and trying to trust God’s plan while living a busy mom life, this Advent episode will help you move forward — without rushing God or standing still.
🎄 Prepare Him Room — an Advent mini-series for Catholic moms.
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
✨ Next Steps:
- Join the Facebook community — Here
- Subscribe to the weekly The Inner Flame — Here
- Take "What is my God-Given purpose: Where to Begin?" quiz — Here
- Book a 1:1 Discernment Coaching Session — Here
✨ Email: hello@michellebrannam.com
✨ Website: https://MichelleBrannam.com
✨ Listen to Related Episodes:
13 | Before the Clarity: Learning to Trust God When You Don’t See the Plan
15 | How to trust that God has a plan for you: 3 Practical Ways
🕊️ Scripture Mentioned:
- Proverbs 3:5-6
🙏 Surrender Novena HERE
Bible Translation Used: All Scripture is quoted from the Revised Standard Version – Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE), The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, © Ascension Press. Used with permission.
Transcript
It becomes easier to follow God's plan because it becomes his plan, not our plan of what we think our purpose should be.
Speaker A:Have you ever found yourself begging God for clarity now while he just seems completely unhurried?
Speaker A:If you're wrestling with his timing, feeling impatient, or just wondering why he isn't answering as quickly as you'd hoped, this episode is gonna hit home.
Speaker A:This is week three of our Prepare Him Room mini series and today we're gonna be talking about surrendering the one thing we all cling to, control of timing and how letting go opens the doors to real peace and direction.
Speaker A:Grab your notebook and pen and let's dive in.
Speaker A:If you're ready to break free from stuck, gain clarity and take steps towards discerning your unique purpose, all while following God's guidance to become the person he created you to be.
Speaker A:If so, you're in the right place.
Speaker A:Hello, I'm Michelle, a Catholic discernment mentor and spiritual coach who went from lost and questioning my purpose to confident in my unique calling using a Catholic based strategy that places God and the Catholic faith at the center.
Speaker A:Are you ready to dive in?
Speaker A:Grab your pen and notebook and get comfy, Open your heart and mind and invite God in as we get ready to become who God created you to be.
Speaker A:Let's do this.
Speaker A:I remember being pregnant with my daughter.
Speaker A:I was curled up on the couch feeling this deep ache in my heart.
Speaker A:I was praying, journaling and searching online, trying to figure out what my unique purpose was.
Speaker A:I wanted to know why God created me, what he had planned for my life and how I could live it fully.
Speaker A:But the more I searched, the more frustrated I became.
Speaker A:I found endless advice, some faith filled, some not.
Speaker A:But nothing had brought me the real clarity.
Speaker A:I felt stuck, overwhelmed and honestly a little lost.
Speaker A:I started wondering if I'd ever be able to hear God's voice clearly.
Speaker A:If you're ready to stop feeling stuck and to start hearing God's voice more clearly, then come join Me for a Purpose coaching session at Bitly catholicpurposecoaching.
Speaker A:The link is also in the episode description.
Speaker A:In one hour you'll walk away with the discernment strategy that you can implement right away to help you uncover your God led next step.
Speaker A:Alright, let's get started.
Speaker A:There was a time when I was working through discovering my purpose and honestly, I struggled with trusting God's plan for me.
Speaker A:I wanted to know the answer sooner rather than later.
Speaker A:I just kept trying to figure out everything out on my own, especially the timing of when I would finally understand my purpose and start living it out.
Speaker A:I remember feeling frustrated because of not knowing God's timeline, letting go of control while still trying to figure out what to do next, which is one of the hardest parts to uncovering our purpose.
Speaker A:And I have seen others struggle with this as well.
Speaker A:So that's why today I want to share how I was able to figure out how to let go and hand it over to God.
Speaker A:And during this Advent season, this is the perfect time to work on surrendering timing and control to our Lord.
Speaker A:One of the challenges when it comes to finding your purpose is surrendering and letting go of timing, timing of when will I know my purpose, when will God reveal that purpose to me?
Speaker A:And on top of that, it's also moving forward and taking steps to uncover your purpose.
Speaker A:Because surrendering control and the timing, it does not mean we sit and wait and idle.
Speaker A:Because surrendering is trusting God.
Speaker A:When things happen, it's not stopping in action.
Speaker A:And you can still take steps while leaving the timeline in God's hands to his timing.
Speaker A:And when I was surrendering the timing of discovering my purpose, I just didn't wait.
Speaker A:I prayed, I journaled and I reflected on how God uniquely designed me.
Speaker A:And I started taking steps, even small ones, towards the life that God created me for.
Speaker A:Because surrendering timing isn't stopping, it's trusting God.
Speaker A:While we're moving forward in obedience, we should be taking action.
Speaker A:Otherwise, how can God guide us along the path?
Speaker A:God's plan is unfolding right now, but we just may not see it yet.
Speaker A:With Christmas approaching, my 4 year old daughter has just been asking for toys almost every day.
Speaker A:I want toys, mommy.
Speaker A:I want my toys.
Speaker A:And to clarify, we don't even have the gifts underneath the tree yet.
Speaker A:She is just struggling with surrendering of what she'll get for Christmas.
Speaker A:So last month when we were shopping, she wanted to buy the toys and take them home now instead of waiting.
Speaker A:She didn't want to trust that she'd get the gifts that she hoped for.
Speaker A:And she didn't want to surrender control.
Speaker A:And that is exactly what we do with God.
Speaker A:We want to know the plan now instead of trusting his timing.
Speaker A:And as you go through the storms and ups and downs of your life, it can be hard to trust God with something that you just want so badly.
Speaker A:And this is the truth with finding and living your purpose.
Speaker A:When I was working through discover My Purpose, I struggled to trust God's plan for me.
Speaker A:I wanted to know sooner rather than later.
Speaker A:I found myself trying to figure out how to surrender the timing of finding my purpose and living out, because this is one of the things that I had struggled with.
Speaker A:One of the biggest mindsets that we humans have is just letting go of control, especially the timeline of when we think things should happen and how.
Speaker A:So when we make that mindset shift, it becomes easier to follow God's plan because it becomes his plan, not our plan of what we think our purpose should be.
Speaker A:And I became aware of my thoughts and I realized that I needed to surrender the timing and the control over to God.
Speaker A:And I began searching for how to surrender.
Speaker A:And I came across the Surrender Novena.
Speaker A:Now this novena, it helps you to trust in God's plan and the timing of his plan for you, and you actually can get started today.
Speaker A:It's a way to pray to Jesus and simply say, jesus, you take care of everything and just passing it over to Him.
Speaker A:And like most novenas, it's prayed over nine days and this takes about five minutes.
Speaker A:So it's simple and it's easy to fit into your already busy schedule.
Speaker A:And the novena starts after making the sign of the cross as you're reading a short words that Jesus spoke to Father to do lindo.
Speaker A:And you'll Repeat this line 10 times.
Speaker A:Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.
Speaker A:And then you conclude with mother, I am yours now and forever through you, with you.
Speaker A:And I want to belong completely to Jesus.
Speaker A:For some of you that want that Surrender Novena, no problem.
Speaker A:I'll have a copy of the Surrender Novena inside our Facebook community.
Speaker A:Finding your purpose Discernment and strategy for Catholic Moms as a free resource that you can just go in and grab it.
Speaker A:If you're not already a member of the Facebook community, you can just search the group by the name or just simply click in the episode description below to take you there.
Speaker A:And if you're receiving the Inner Flame Devotional Companion, there'll be a copy in there too.
Speaker A:And if you're not on that list and you want to receive it, the link will be in the episode description as well.
Speaker A:And another tool that really helped me to anchor myself into and help me surrender is in Proverbs 3, 5, 6, which I even have on my computer screen to remind myself daily of this.
Speaker A:And I read it over several times throughout the day as I look at my computer.
Speaker A:And that verse is trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight.
Speaker A:In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.
Speaker A:And this was just a way to anchor and ground myself in God's words to help me rewire and to remind myself that this is God's truth, that all I have to do is trust him with my whole heart and not to rely on my insight, not my ways, because they're my ways, they're not God's way.
Speaker A:And when you acknowledge him, he will make straight your paths.
Speaker A:So part of the surrendering also is in trust.
Speaker A:And now those are the two things that helped me finally release the pressure that I was putting on myself and surrendering the timing of God's plan for my life.
Speaker A:So when we trust in God's plan, it brings us peace.
Speaker A:And when we hand over the timing to God, that brings us peace.
Speaker A:And as we stay focused on uncovering the clues that he's placed within us and trust him and we surrender to his will, his plans, and our unique purpose, well, then peace follows.
Speaker A:And if you're ready to move from understanding your purpose to actually discovering your purpose, my one to one coaching session is designed to give you the roadmap for your next right steps.
Speaker A:So no more spinning, you're not.
Speaker A:But instead you're taking those steps while you're leaving the timeline into God's hand to his timing.
Speaker A:And you want to go to bit ly catholicpurposecoaching, which is bit ly catholicpurpurposecoaching to grab yourself a session.
Speaker A:Now here's what I want you to take with you today.
Speaker A:Surrendering the timing doesn't mean doing nothing.
Speaker A:You release control of when God reveals His purpose, but you still take faithful steps.
Speaker A:You're praying, you're journaling, you're reflecting and moving towards the life that he created you for.
Speaker A:Entrusting God's timing is one of the hardest parts of discovering your purpose.
Speaker A:Just like my daughter was wanting her gifts early, we want the answers now.
Speaker A:Our impatience makes us surrender hard, but it's also where God grows us the most.
Speaker A:And then the tools, like the surrender novena and the Proverbs 3, 5, 6, it helps you to stay grounded when your waiting feels uncomfortable.
Speaker A:These anchor you in the truth and remind you that Jesus, you take care of everything.
Speaker A:And then peace comes when you fully let go of control.
Speaker A:When you hand God the timeline and you focus on uncovering those clues that he placed within you, peace follows because you're no longer carrying the burden alone.
Speaker A:Let us pray in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Jesus, as we enter week three of Advent and prepare for your coming, teach us to find joy in surrendering to you.
Speaker A:Grow us in the virtue of letting go, letting you take care of everything, especially the timing and the parts of our lives that we keep trying to control.
Speaker A:Help us to trust that when we release our grip and place it all into your hands, you will bring the peace that only you can give.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Now let's take this from head to heart.
Speaker A:Knowing the truth is powerful, but change happens when you live it out one small step at a time.
Speaker A:This week, lean into the virtue of surrender by praying the Surrender Novena.
Speaker A:It's simple.
Speaker A:It's grounding, and the words of Jesus in this prayer meets you right where you are, especially if you're trying to let go of control and trust his timing.
Speaker A:And you can grab your copy of the Surrender Noveno inside our Facebook community Finding youg Discernment and Strategy for Catholic Moms Just simply type in the group the name or you can just look in the link for the episode description and click on that.
Speaker A:And you can also find the Surrender Novena inside the Inner Flame, our weekly devotion companion for the podcast.
Speaker A:And remember, my beautiful sister in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another couple.
Speaker A:Until then, may God bless you and bring you peace.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker A:I pray that today's episode blesses and encourages you.
Speaker A:If so, would you please share it with someone you know that would be blessed by it?
Speaker A:If you felt inspired or learned something Today, please take 30 seconds to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:This is the number one way to let me know that you are liking the show and for me to reach other Catholic women like yourself.
Speaker A:If you're feeling uncertain or lost on your discernment journey, you're not alone.
Speaker A:Join us over in the free Facebook community where Catholic women just like you are sharing, supporting and growing together in faith.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:God bless you.
