What do You do When You Hit a Stop Sign in Life?

By Dehyana

Let me share a story. During the pandemic, I was sitting outside in my garden enjoying lunch, not thinking about much at all. When out of the blue, I heard an inner voice as clear as day, say, “It’s time to leave Malaysia and move to Bulgaria.” It felt right—no overthinking, no resistance. I simply trusted and followed.

And so, we got the ball rolling, doing everything necessary to make the move from Malaysia to Europe. It seemed simple enough at first with a clear direction, and a strong inner knowing guiding the way. But then, the dreaded stop signs began appearing. Time after time, we hit roadblocks.

“It felt right—no overthinking, no resistance. I simply trusted and followed.”

The Journey Begins: Facing the Roadblocks

The bureaucratic maze of coordinating between three countries tested our resolve. Documents expired while waiting for others to be processed. Each step forward seemed to trigger two steps back, leaving us spinning in what felt like an administrative whirlpool. So many times, just when I thought we’d made progress, another obstacle would emerge, forcing us to backtrack, revise, or start over.

In moments of frustration, I couldn’t help but wonder what the heck was happening? It felt like we were running on a hamster wheel, exhausting ourselves but going nowhere. To be quite honest, I wrestled with doubt: Was this a test of my determination, or a sign that I’ve misinterpreted the path entirely?

“Each step forward seemed to trigger two steps back, leaving us spinning in what felt like an administrative whirlpool.”

Life’s Unexpected Turns

Over these years, life unfolded in ways I never could have anticipated. A sudden health crisis demanded immediate attention. Business matters required focus. Then came my second daughter Jaime’s hospitalisation and surgery, events that shifted everything into perspective. And in the midst of it all, the deepest pain a parent could face—the loss of my youngest daughter, Jordan. Looking back, I can’t help but wonder: Were these profound challenges the reason the universe kept me here? Was there a greater purpose in these delays that I couldn’t see at the time?

Life, much like the roads we travel on, comes with its own traffic signs. Sometimes these signs are gentle nudges from God, the universe, or our inner knowing. Other times, they’re loud and unmistakable.

“Were these profound challenges the reason the universe kept me here?”

Understanding the Sacred Pause

Now, nearly three years later, I find myself standing still before a another stop sign. It’s jarring and sometimes disorienting. Yet, deep down, I sense this is no ordinary moment, so I’m calling it a sacred pause, which I see as an invitation for me to stop, reflect, and ask, “What now?”

“I’m calling it a sacred pause, which I see as an invitation for me to stop, reflect, and ask, ‘What now?'”

Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar. Maybe a job fell through, a relationship ended, or a cherished project stalled, leaving you wondering why your efforts aren’t bearing fruit.

The Deeper Learning

What I’ve come to know is that these moments aren’t random. I like to think of them as divinely orchestrated pauses. They might be protecting us, redirecting us, or preparing us for something greater. However, what I know for sure is that they do require something from us: patience, trust, faith and the willingness to be still and listen to that still small voice within.

Looking back on the past three years from where I am now, I can honestly say that the challenges I faced taught me patience, deepened my ability to surrender, and strengthened my faith in ways I never imagined. It’s so clear to me now that it wasn’t just about achieving the goal of moving to Europe—it was about the person I was becoming throughout the journey.

“The stop signs weren’t there to block me — they were there to prepare me.”

With every stop sign came an opportunity for me to pause and reassess—not just the logistics of the move, but also my inner state. Was I approaching this with trust or with resistance? Was I allowing divine timing to unfold, or trying to force my will?

I realised something profound during this process: the stop signs weren’t there to block me — they were there to prepare me. Each delay or seeming obstacle sharpened my clarity, strengthened my resolve, and deepened my trust in the unfolding plan.

Closing Prayer

I often pray to God to close the doors that aren’t meant for me and to open the ones that align with the path I’m meant to walk.

Although it’s been said that the wheels of the Lord grind slowly, this journey teaches me to live each day to the fullest, no matter what unfolds, and to trust wholeheartedly that I am overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and that Gods got my back, front and both sides!

“Close the doors that are not meant for me, and open the ones that align with Your will for my life.”

So, what do you do when you hit a stop sign in your life? I’d love to hear your thoughts.