How Can We Be Content in Slow Seasons of Life?

Audio By Carbonatix

Imagine yourself driving with cruise control set, then suddenly slamming on the brakes because there is a traffic jam ahead, nearly at a standstill. Even if you were going at a moderate speed, shifting to a snail's pace can feel jarring, uncomfortable, and perhaps even frustrating. In the same way, life will often lead us into a slow season, and with it, the same wrestling we find with driving slowly: a discontent spirit. How can we change our perspectives not just to tolerate slow seasons, but to thrive in them?

Rhythm of Rest

We were never meant to run at a high-efficiency pace constantly; you need rest. Not just for your physical body, but for your mental, emotional, and spiritual development, times of rest can prove very beneficial. Down time allows us space to ponder and process, which lend themselves to maturity ultimately. Even as children, most physical growth occurs when a child is asleep, so it makes sense that rest results in growth. Developing a restful rhythm prepares you for a time in the future where there is little time for anything. What you once counted as boring or monotonous will then look like a luxury because of how hectic things are in life. Don't discount how a measure of rest can refuel you for what awaits you and how catching your breath can be an asset.

Space for Skill Sharpening

Slow seasons are opportunities to sharpen the saw metaphorically, or if you are handy, literally. Skills are developed and cultivated; they are very rarely instantly successful. Even the greatest of singers, the fastest of runners, and masters of crafts need practice time, so slow seasons can be a place for just that. Practice, trying something new, exploring threads of curiosity, and attempting a familiar action in a new way are all born from seasons that hold more time than others. You may be surprised what discoveries are made and what you acquire in a time you once counted useless.

Selah

In the Bible, there are times when a breath, or a slow season, is exemplified as something not just helpful, but holy. The Hebrew word selah is used over 74 times in the Old Testament and has many meanings. One is a pause, or a rest, as BibleStudyTools finds:

"Some think that Selah is an emphatic word, marking a point in the psalm for "lifting up" one's thoughts to God. But most scholars think it is simply some form of musical notation, such as a marker of a musical interlude, a pause, or a change of key."

If we view our lives as a song of praise and worship unto the Lord, it would be only fitting to have a selah, a time to pause, change a key, or pause and think. Others have found that selah means to stop and listen for God. All of these definitions reiterate slowing down to look up at Him, as it says in Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Selah."

Perhaps a slow season intends to strengthen one's relationship with God—listen for instruction on how to steward the time well. Whatever it may hold, do not underestimate the power of a selah season or what He may have for you to learn.

Wilderness Seasons

In Church culture, slower seasons can also be labeled as "wilderness seasons." Sometimes they feel like wandering about searching for a new destination. In the Bible, those wilderness seasons (the ones that can appear to have no real importance or direction) can be the very place where revelation is found, an encounter with God emerges, and something new sprouts up. The Hebrew word for wilderness is midbar, which according to Strong's lexicon means, "a pasture, a desert, and speech (meaning the mouth of God)."

This commentary reminds us:

"From Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1) to Elijah at Horeb (1 Kings 19:8-18), midbar serves as a classroom for theophany. The 'word of the LORD came' to John the son of Zechariah 'in the wilderness' (Luke 3:2), echoing earlier prophetic patterns. Solitude strips away distractions so that God's voice stands alone."

In slower wilderness seasons, those who have journeyed before us encountered God in a pivotal way. This is not to say that all slow seasons will yield such a profound result, but it is not to take it out of consideration as well. A slower season is not a punishment; it is a place to steward well and for the glory of God.

Stewarding the Season

A content heart is ultimately a thankful heart. When things are slow, we can buy into the lie that things will never change, that we are washed up, and that all excitement for life is over, or we can move from self-pity into a posture of praise to God for all He has done and is doing. Many of the circumstances you are living in now are answered prayers—ones you begged and pleaded for in the past. Stewarding a season well requires praising Him for what He has already done; it is enough even if He never does anything else for us again. 

Speaking to our hearts, the words of Psalm 103:2: "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits" or 1 Chronicles 16:12: "Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced," invite us to remember the goodness of God. When we turn the pages of old prayer journals to see how many He has answered, when we consider the obstacles He helped us to overcome, or when we see that He has always remained present with us, we find contentment. It is authentic gratitude we hold when we are tempted to become discouraged or disgruntled. Stewarding a season well moves us to invite the Lord to show us what He desires us to see, to instruct us as He desires us to move, or to use the precious time He has given us well. John 10:10 reminds us that a life in Christ is "life to the fullest," and part of the abundance of life is a time of a slower pace. It is not less useful to the Lord, and it is no less valuable to us in the long run. Let us all remind our hearts to be in genuine gratitude, to seek how He wants us to use this season, and to await with hope-filled hearts all that lies ahead. Selah.

Cally Logan is the author of three books, including The Wallflower that Bloomed, winner of the 2025 Reader’s Choice Christian Literary Award and the Henri Award, and an Expert Writer for Crosswalk.com and The Rooted Truth. Her heart finds beauty in the mysteries of life and in the glory all around us in the details, big and small. Storytelling is her passion, and she believes each and every one of us holds a unique, valuable, and hand-written story by God, and together, we are part of the Grand Story He has written. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University and has taught US History and Western Civilization for nearly a decade. Her works have been featured on outlets such as Jesus Calling, The 700 Club Interactive, Propel Women, and many more. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, watching movies, and woodworking. Check out her website, callylogan.com, or find her on Instagram @CallyLogan.