When You’re Not Where You Thought You’d Be

I’ve hit a lot of the goals I set—career, finances, stability. I’ve checked some big boxes and built a life I’m proud of.

And still… there are days when I look around and think,

“Huh. I thought I’d have figured out how to keep the house cleaner by now.”

I imagined I’d be more disciplined, maybe a little more organized, with a fridge full of prepped meals and a consistent workout routine. I didn’t picture standing in my kitchen brushing crumbs off the counter for the third time before 10 a.m., or answering a child asking for chips for breakfast (again), or mentally rewriting my to-do list because half of it already went sideways.

But here I am. And honestly? It’s good here.

It’s not Pinterest-perfect. It’s not always calm or tidy or efficient. But it’s steady. It’s rich in ways I never put on my original goal list:

• A husband who handles homework duty like a champ.

• A house that feels lived-in and loved.

• A big deck where I sip chai and watch the day roll in.

And a heart that’s learning that peace isn’t always about progress. Sometimes it’s about presence.

Proverbs 16:9 says:

“In their hearts humans plan their course,but the Lord establishes their steps.”

I made my plans, and a lot of them came true. But God keeps inviting me into something even deeper than success—contentment. Not in a passive way, but in the kind of way where you breathe deeply and say, “This is good. I don’t need to chase more right now.”

If you’re looking around your life thinking it’s not exactly what you imagined—even if it’s better in unexpected ways—here’s your reminder:

You’re allowed to be proud of how far you’ve come.

You’re allowed to rest without guilt.

You’re allowed to say, “I’m happy”—even if the laundry still isn’t folded.

You didn’t miss it. You’re not behind.

You’re becoming—even here, even now.

—The Rusted Sparrow