Sometimes, we think life should be a steady climb that is always reaching new heights. Things improve, jobs improve, investments improve and they are always growing. As any of us know, who have been around for a few dozen ice cream seasons, that is not the real-life experience.
Take a farmer who plants his field. For weeks and maybe months it doesn’t seem like anything is happening, but the truth is, that is when the real roots are growing. It seems like nothing is happening but one day there is nothing above ground and the next day the field of green is springing up. It just looked like a plateau, but it was really just getting ready.
We started going to the gym back last fall and I never felt so old, fat and weak. I saw this dude who was 73 doing pullups, which as anyone knows, is probably the hardest exercise in the gym. He was doing them Rocky style, palms out. Well, I got to talking to him one day and we became friends as well as about 10 other guys who are all around my age. He told me it takes time to condition your body and your mind to do pullups. For months I worked on that one goal, and it seemed like a long plateau, but I just stayed with it and now I start every workout with a few pullups. It makes me feel accomplished. I still look fat and old but at least I don’t hear Joe-Gym-Body snickering behind me. ha
There are plateaus in life and many people quit during those seasons when it seems like nothing is working like it is supposed to. More times than not the one who succeeds is not the smartest, best educated or best trained. It’s the one who wouldn’t quit. The plateau may just be where character is built, wisdom is gained, patience is developed and faith is tested.
The truth is that the plateaus are not the permanent destinations, they are the training ground for what God has planned for your life.
If you are in a plateau season of life, take heart and stay faithful to your objective because what feels like a standstill, may actually be the preparation for the greatest growth of your life. KT