How to Turn a Setback into Your Next Step | The Dreamer’s Journey series pt 2 | Ep 374
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When the Dream Feels Stuck: Why Your Setback Is Really a Setup
Ever said yes to a God-dream… only to watch it stall out, slow down, or just completely belly flop?
You start strong, do all the right things, and then—crickets. No results. No movement. Just you staring at the ceiling thinking, “Did I miss God, or did my Wi-Fi connection to Heaven drop out?”
Yeah. Been there.
I remember finally landing a position I loved in women’s ministry. I poured my heart into it—long hours, late nights, and one big event that went off beautifully. I thought, this is it!
Cue the plot twist.
I got moved out of the role I loved and back into accounting. My new assignment? Sitting at the copier all day, scanning contribution envelopes. I cried at that copier more times than I can count. Pretty sure it saw more mascara streaks than some Kleenex boxes.
But a few months later, something shifted. I got put in charge of the church database—a job I didn’t ask for and definitely didn’t feel qualified for. I didn’t even know what “CRM” stood for (Customer Relationship Mystery, maybe?).
Yet that’s where I learned systems, structure, and problem-solving. What felt like a demotion turned out to be training for the business I’d one day run.
Father was using the copier and the database to prep me for the next season. Who knew toner fumes could be holy?
And that’s what Joseph’s story reminds us of too. His dream looked dead long before it came to life. Betrayed by brothers. Sold. Falsely accused. Forgotten. Yet every step was forming the man who could carry the promise.
Your dream isn’t dead, friend. It’s just in development.
1. When You’re in the Pit — Pause and Pray
Joseph didn’t plan on getting thrown into a pit. One minute he’s strutting in his multicolored coat like the favorite child he was; the next, he’s sitting in a hole with no way out (Genesis 37:23–24).
The pit is quiet. Lonely. And if you’re like me, it’s where you start asking all the deep questions… like, “Um, God? Hello? You still there?”
But the pit isn’t punishment—it’s a pause.
It’s the space where you stop striving, catch your breath, and talk to Father about what’s really going on inside you. Stillness with Him quiets the noise and clears the confusion.
Even science agrees! Prayer activates your prefrontal cortex (the part that helps you think clearly) and calms your amygdala (the little drama queen in your brain that loves to panic).
So before you plan your next move, pause. Ask, “Father, what are You forming in me right now?” Then listen. That stillness isn’t wasted—it’s sacred space where courage starts to rise again.
2. When You’re in Potiphar’s House — Stay Faithful
After the pit, Joseph got promoted into Potiphar’s house. Finally, things were looking up! He had favor, influence, and success… until it all got ripped away again by a false accusation (Genesis 39).
That kind of “here we go again” moment hurts. You can practically hear the sitcom “womp womp” sound in the background.
But Joseph stayed faithful.
He didn’t fake being fine. (And if you’ve ever said, “I’m fine,” you know that usually stands for Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, Emotional. Thanks, Italian Job.)
Faithfulness doesn’t mean ignoring your emotions. It means doing what’s right even when you don’t feel like it.
That’s where resilience grows.
Psychologists call it “resilience through consistency.” Every time you show up with integrity when things fall apart, your brain builds stronger emotional pathways. Faithfulness literally rewires your nervous system for strength and peace.
So if you’ve been making progress and suddenly the rug gets pulled out, don’t give up.
Favor isn’t proven by results—it’s proven by faithfulness when success ghosts you.
3. When You’re in Prison — Keep Practicing
Joseph went from Potiphar’s house to prison, again through no fault of his own. But even there, he practiced what he’d learned. He served. He led. He used his gifts.
That hidden work was shaping his dream readiness.
When Pharaoh finally called him up to interpret his dream, Joseph didn’t have to scramble—he was already ready. Years of faithful practice made him the man who could step into the palace and save the world (literally).
Dr. Anders Ericsson calls this deliberate practice. It’s not repetition for the sake of it—it’s focused, feedback-driven refinement.
You plan, you do, you review, and then you tweak and grow.
Hidden seasons aren’t wasted seasons. They strengthen your skill, your faith, and your readiness.
Courageous Action
If your dream feels stuck, let’s turn your waiting season into growth ground.
1️⃣ Pause & Pray
Before you plan or pivot, take 5–10 minutes of quiet with Father. Breathe. Ask, “What are You forming in me right now?” Let His peace settle your heart, and write down what He shows you.
2️⃣ Stay Faithful in the Middle
Pick one small, specific commitment you’ll keep this week. Maybe it’s a client check-in, a post, or a 15-minute focus block. Follow through even when it’s hard. Faithfulness retrains your brain for peace under pressure.
3️⃣ Practice with Purpose
Choose one area to grow—a skill, a habit, or a mindset. Use this rhythm:
Plan what you’ll practice.
Do it.
Review what worked and what didn’t.
Then adjust and repeat. Those small tweaks stack up into transformation.
Your setback isn’t the end—it’s your setup for your next level-up.
This is where Father grows your strength, stretches your faith, and builds the woman who can carry the dream He gave you.
So take heart, my Courageous One. You’re not behind. You’re being built into the woman who can carry the dream to the finish line!
Show Notes
🗓 Summary
I know what it feels like when a God-dream stalls and you wonder, “Did I miss it?” In this episode, I walk you through Joseph’s journey to show you how what looks like punishment is actually preparation. I’ll give you the steps to take to grow the muscles you’ll need for your next steps. Your setback isn’t the end. It’s your setup for your next level-up.
✨ Who This Is For
Faith-driven women entrepreneurs who feel stuck, worn out, or worried they’ve missed God’s timing. If your dream feels stalled or your progress has slowed, this episode will help you see your season differently—and show you how to grow through it.
🔎 What You’ll Walk Away With
✅ How to pause and pray instead of panic
✅ Why faithfulness in the middle builds resilience
✅ How stillness with Father resets your clarity
✅ What Joseph’s story teaches about preparation in every season
✅ A practical way to practice deliberately and refine your skills
✅ Why your “setback” is really your setup for the next level
💬 Sound Bites
“The pit isn’t punishment. It’s the place you pause so Father can refill your courage.”
“When success ghosts you, faithfulness forms you.”
“Hidden seasons aren’t wasted seasons—they’re where mastery is made.”
“Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for reflection: plan, do, review, tweak.”
🛠️ Courageous Action
1️⃣ Pause & Pray – Before you plan or pivot, stop and sit with Father. Take 5–10 minutes of quiet to breathe, pray, and ask, “What are You forming in me right now?” Let stillness calm your thoughts and let His wisdom rise to the surface. Jot down what He shows you—don’t overthink it.
2️⃣ Stay Faithful in the Middle – Look at your to-do list and calendar. What actually matters most right now? Choose one small, specific commitment you can keep this week—a client touchpoint, one post, one follow-up. Follow through even if emotions dip. Consistency retrains your brain for resilience.
3️⃣ Practice with Purpose – Pick one skill Father’s highlighting—maybe communication, leadership, tech, or social posts. Do a short daily “Plan–Do–Review.”
• Plan: Decide exactly what you’ll practice today.
• Do: Try it, without chasing perfection.
• Review: Reflect—what worked, what needs tweaking?
Then adjust and repeat. Small, intentional reps build mastery faster than big bursts of hustle.
Your job this week: pick the one area you most need—pause, faithfulness, or practice—and start there. Real transformation happens when you partner with Father in the pause, stay steady in the middle, and keep practicing with purpose until it becomes your new normal.
⏱ Chapters
00:09 — When your dream stalls: did I miss God?
04:57 — My setback story: when the dream looked dead
09:38 — Joseph’s journey: what looked like punishment was preparation
12:05 — Step 1: Pit → Pause & Pray
16:51 — Step 2: Potiphar’s House → Stay Faithful
24:03 — Step 3: Prison → Keep Practicing
31:22 — Courageous Action: your setup for the next level
🎉 Who Am I?
Hey friend, I’m Heather—your Courageous Coach. I’m a certified life & Enneagram coach, speaker, and author of Hello Courageous. I help Christian women entrepreneurs go from feeling stuck, not-enough, and fearful to taking focused, confident, and courageous action. Together we go from dreamers to courageous action takers.
I also love helping fellow coaches, speakers, and authors take the ideas swirling in their heads and turn them into signature systems and books that create real income and impact.
💡 Let’s Stay Connected
📖 Hello Courageous – The Gal’s Guide to Delight, Discover and Direct Your Divine Life book: https://hellocourageous.com/hcbook
🛒 Get Hello Courageous on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP3BZ7ZP
🆓 Beat Procrastination Cheat Sheet: https://www.heatherbunch.com/beatit
🆓 Overcome Fear by Friday – 5 day self-paced video challenge: https://www.heatherbunch.com/overcomefearchallenge
🌐 Website: https://www.heatherbunch.com
📧 Email: hello@heatherbunch.com
📸 Instagram: @heatherlbunch