Delays Due to Construction: Learning Patience and Progress in Life’s Waiting Rooms
Maximum Life: Unlocking Your Full Potential in 2025
Excerpted from Maximum Life: Unlocking Your Full Potential Through Inner Growth, Momentum, and Impact by Iann Schonken at Amazon.com.
In both construction and life, forward progress rarely happens without interruptions. Whether you’re building a home, pursuing a career, restoring a relationship, or working on personal growth, delays will inevitably come. These delays often bring frustration and uncertainty, especially when we are eager to see results. But hidden within these moments of waiting is the potential for growth, refinement, and divine redirection.
Delays are part of the construction process. A shortage of materials, unexpected weather, revised plans, or unforeseen obstacles can all bring forward motion to a halt. But instead of treating these pauses as detours, what if we began to see them as invitations?
What if delays aren’t disruptions—but necessary recalibrations?
Napoleon Hill once said, “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” ¹
That combination becomes especially crucial when what we hoped would be finished is still in process. It’s natural to feel stuck. But the truth is, something deeper is being formed.
Embracing delays is a form of emotional and spiritual maturity. Every moment of resistance builds strength. Every unexpected turn trains us in resilience. Delays often demand innovation, too. When our original plan fails to unfold as anticipated, we must engage in creative thinking to uncover more effective strategies. In these seasons, our flexibility becomes our greatest asset.
But more than anything else, delays teach us the value of patience. Waiting stretches us. It softens what is rigid, smooths out what is hurried, and slows us down enough to notice what matters most. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “He that can have patience can have what he will.” ²
That kind of patience isn’t passive—it’s persistent. It stays the course even when the finish line feels far away.
Planning ahead with a generous spirit is beneficial when you find yourself in a period of life's construction. Building in margin for setbacks, creating time for adjustments, and being willing to shift course when necessary help us stay grounded. The road to anything meaningful is rarely linear.
Charles Darwin noted, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” ³
We can apply the same principle to people. Adaptability is strength. The ability to revise plans, reevaluate goals, and reimagine what’s possible turns a delay into an opportunity.
Focusing on progress rather than perfection keeps us hopeful. A small step forward, no matter how delayed, is still progress. Reaching out for support is crucial when discouragement strikes, as it inevitably does. Sharing our burdens with others helps lighten the emotional load.
Helen Keller once observed, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ⁴
Her words are a timely reminder that encouragement and community are vital to staying the course.
Delays also serve as mirrors, reflecting back the areas in our lives that need attention. Honesty often reveals what requires pruning, repurposing, or pausing. They invite us into reflection. They help us ask the more profound questions: Why was I in such a hurry? What is this event teaching me about trust, about timing, and about grace?
In seasons of delay, faith becomes essential. When our progress doesn’t match our plans, when answers seem slow and outcomes uncertain, it helps to remember that God’s timing is always purposeful. Scripture speaks directly to these moments of waiting.
Psalm 27:14 (NIV) says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” It’s a powerful reminder that waiting is not weakness—it’s courage. And Romans 8:28 (NIV) offers this assurance:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Even the delays are woven into a divine plan.
When we allow space for delays to shape us, rather than derail us, we become more resilient. Creating realistic expectations, staying attentive to what’s working, and cultivating a hopeful attitude can help us carry peace even when progress slows.
It’s also helpful to track what you’ve already accomplished. Staying organized and mindful of the ground you’ve covered provides momentum when motivation runs low. You might not be where you wanted to be—but you’re certainly not where you started. That, in itself, is a reason to keep going.
Above all, a positive outlook serves as your most dependable companion during delays. If you can train your eyes to see purpose in the pause and value in the valley, you’ll walk through waiting seasons with wisdom rather than weariness.
The story does not end with delays. They are simply chapters that require a little more patience to understand. When handled well, they become sacred spaces of growth. They build something deeper than success—they build endurance, empathy, and faith.
So if you’re in a season of construction—if things are slower than you hoped—don’t despair. You’re still building. You’re still becoming. Remember that the pause serves a purpose.
REFERENCES
Napoleon Hill, “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” Accessed on July 10, 2024. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/napoleon_hill_152875
Benjamin Franklin, “He that can have patience can have what he will.” Accessed July 10, 2024. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/benjamin_franklin_151645
Charles Darwin, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Accessed July 10, 2024. https://x.com/prof_wiley/status/1739653290038808808
Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Accessed July 10, 2024. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/helen_keller_382259
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