You’re not Behind

It’s easy to feel behind in life.

We scroll past highlight reels of people landing dream jobs, buying homes, taking incredible trips, starting families, launching businesses and all the things we thought we’d have by now. And somewhere in the back of our minds, a little voice whispers, “You should be further along.”

I know that voice.
I’ve heard it too.

In our early twenties, my husband and I bought our first home. It felt like a huge accomplishment, like we were ahead of the game. We were young, full of ambition, and so proud of what we were building together.
We felt like we were on top of the world.

Not long after, we made the decision to move out of state so my husband could go back to school. It was the right move for us but a huge leap of faith and in order to make it work, we decided to rent out our home while we were away.

But things didn’t go as planned.

Our renters ended up flooding the house. And because of the specific kind of flood it was, our insurance wouldn’t cover the damages. We were devastated. We were poor college students with limited options, and after weighing everything, we decided the only thing we could do was sell the house.
Thankfully, the market was strong and we still made a profit. But that didn’t take away the sting.

When we moved back to Arizona, we didn’t have a home to return to.
We moved in with our parents.
And in that season, it felt like we had taken so many steps backward.

All around us, people our age were buying homes, renovating kitchens, hosting holidays in their own spaces and we were sharing a bathroom with our siblings again. It was humbling.
It was hard.

And honestly? There were moments when I felt like we had failed.

But here’s the thing I’ve learned since then and maybe it’s what you need to hear today:

You are never behind in life when you are following what’s right for you.

Sure, looking back, there are things I wish we had done differently. But at the time? We were doing the best we could with what we knew and what we had. And that’s not failure.
That’s life.

Getting out of that “I’m behind” mindset didn’t happen overnight, but here’s what helped me shift:

1. I started measuring progress by faithfulness, not milestones.

Instead of asking, “What haven’t I accomplished yet?” I started asking, “Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing in this season?”
Because sometimes, the most meaningful growth isn’t visible on the outside it’s happening in the quiet, internal places.

2. I reminded myself that timelines are made up.

The idea that you need to own a home by 25 or have your career figured out by 30? Who said that? Whose timeline are we even following? When I stopped trying to “keep up” with everyone else, I started feeling more peace in my path.

3. We made small, consistent decisions to move forward.

We saved. We dreamed. We found our footing again, even while living with family. We stayed hopeful, even when it didn’t look like progress. And eventually things began to shift.

The truth is: every step, even the ones that feel like setbacks, can still move you forward if you stay faithful.

So if you’re in a season that feels like you're falling behind because maybe you're living with your parents, or still figuring out your career, or watching others live the life you thought you’d have by now, please know this:

You’re not late. You’re learning. You’re becoming. You’re being led.

And the version of you that will rise from this season?
She’ll be stronger, more grounded, and more grateful than you can imagine.

You haven’t missed it.
You’re not forgotten.
And you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Keep showing up.
Keep trusting the timing.
And remember: just because your story looks different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

It might just mean it’s divinely timed.