There’s something oddly comforting about putting something in a box.
Not to hide it. Not to forget it. Just… to set it aside for a while.
That’s what this week has been about for me. Letting myself name a few things — questions, decisions, memories — and saying, not now. Not because they’re unimportant. But because they don’t need an answer right this minute.
If you’ve been following along this week, you know we’ve been exploring the idea of The Not Now Box — a way to give ourselves permission to pause. To defer what doesn’t need to be solved, fixed, or explained right now.
And I’ll be honest: this one has been harder than I expected.
I like closure. I like clarity. But healing doesn’t follow my timelines. And neither does trust.

What I’ve Placed in My Not Now Box

This week I’ve placed a few things in that imaginary box:
– A relationship that still feels unresolved
– A part of my story that still stings when I try to put words around it
– The ache that surfaces around the anniversary of my husband’s death

Grief doesn’t belong in a box, and I’m not trying to tuck it away.

But I’ve learned that I can hold space for sorrow without letting it take over. I can acknowledge the ache without letting it consume me and some days, that means gently saying, not now — not to the love or the loss, but to the spiral that sometimes tries to follow.
None of these things are gone. They’re just resting. And in some quiet way, I think I am too.

This was one of the biggest hurdles for me early in my healing.

I wanted to understand everything all at once — to dig into every memory, every emotion, every reaction. I thought that was the only way to heal. But what I’ve come to realize is that timing matters. There’s wisdom in waiting.

Even now, after years of doing this work, I still feel the pull to dig. I still want to chase every uncomfortable feeling down to its roots. But I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that it’s okay — and often necessary — to pause. To say, I’m not ready for this yet. And that’s okay.

That’s the whole point of the Not Now Box. It isn’t avoidance. It’s trust that I’ll come back to what needs tending when I’m better equipped to handle it.

Carry This With You

Tool of the Week: The Not Now Box
Not everything needs an answer right now.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the weight of all the unknowns — all the what-ifs, shoulds, and whens, maybe try this:
Visualize placing them in a small box, one by one. Label it Not Now.
Then, take a breath. Pray. Let it sit.
You don’t have to fix it all to move forward.
Some things heal in the holding and remembering that the Lord will hold it for you.

What’s Next: One Gentle Yes

As this week draws to a close, I’ve started to notice something. In the quiet space left behind, after naming and setting aside… there’s a whisper of clarity. A sense of something small and doable. One little yes.
That’s where we’re headed next week: One Gentle Yes.
Not a to-do list. Not a big leap. Just a soft nudge, the kind you almost miss if you’re not listening.

Want a Little Extra Help?

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Let me know in the comments what you’ve put in your Not Now Box this week. Or share your struggles with putting things aside.