When You Feel Like a Spiritual Goldfish

You ever watch a goldfish swim in circles, completely unaware that it just passed the same plastic castle five times? That’s how I feel some days—especially in my walk with God.

I tell myself, Okay, this time I’m going to trust Him. No more worrying. No more trying to control everything. And then… five minutes later, I’m back at it, stressing about things I already handed over to Him.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? To feel like you’re stuck in the same patterns of doubt, fear, or impatience. Maybe you’ve prayed for the same thing for so long that you wonder if God just put you on “read.” Maybe you keep stumbling over the same struggles and feel like you’ll never get it right.

But here’s the thing: God is incredibly patient with His people. Just look at the Israelites. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years—making the same mistakes, doubting God even after watching Him do the impossible. And yet, He never abandoned them. He kept leading, kept providing, kept loving.

Philippians 1:6 says, “…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” That means God isn’t done with you. Your faith journey isn’t measured by how many times you have to relearn the same lesson—it’s measured by the One who never gives up on you.

So if today feels like another lap around the same struggle, take heart. God is still working. You may feel like a goldfish, but He sees the bigger picture. And trust me—He’s leading you somewhere good.