Pushing Through Uncertainty

There are days when I feel like I'm swinging at the wind. Like I can see the vision clear in my spirit, but my reality hasn't caught up. I’ve felt the pressure of trying to build something meaningful while everything around me feels like it’s moving in slow motion.

Doors don’t open fast enough. People say they’ll help and disappear. Support is promised but never delivered. The vision is real—but the road to making it real? That part can be lonely.

I know what it feels like to sit with uncertainty.

Uncertainty is that quiet storm. It’s not always loud. It shows up in the silence after the phone call doesn’t come. It whispers in your ear when you check your account balance and realize your dream is still underfunded. It walks beside you when you leave another meeting where they "love what you're doing," but they don’t back it with action.

I want to tell you this: uncertainty doesn't mean you're off track.

We live in a society that worships speed. Quick results. Instant gratification. Social media feeds us this illusion that success is instant, that everyone is a millionaire by 25, and that if you're not making six figures off a side hustle, you're failing.

But the truth? That kind of thinking leads to unnecessary anxiety, and it clouds your judgment. It makes you feel like you’re behind when really, you’re just building something that takes time.

Let’s bring in some real numbers. As of April 2025, Forbes reports that there are only 3,028 billionaires in the entire world. That’s out of more than 8 billion people. Collectively, these individuals hold a net worth of $16.1 trillion. The U.S. leads with 902 billionaires, followed by China with 516, and India with 205. Elon Musk still tops the list with a staggering $342 billion in personal net worth.

That’s an incredibly exclusive club. Yet influencers, marketing ads, and hustle culture often sell this idea that becoming a billionaire—or even a millionaire—is just a matter of “grinding harder.” But let’s keep it 100: even the wealthiest people faced years, sometimes decades, of rejection, debt, and failure before anyone knew their name.

Take Howard Schultz of Starbucks. He grew up in public housing and was rejected over 200 times when pitching his business model. Or Jeff Bezos—he didn’t turn a profit with Amazon for nearly a decade. Oprah faced racism, sexism, and abuse and was once fired for being “unfit for TV.”

What do these stories have in common? None of these people got there overnight. They endured setbacks, lived with doubt, and made sacrifices most of us never see. They didn’t wait for perfect clarity. They walked through uncertainty and kept building anyway.

So when you’re in the thick of it—when you’re watching your peers seem to skyrocket while you’re still planting seeds—understand this: most of what you’re seeing is a highlight reel. The process is messier, longer, and lonelier than anyone talks about. But it’s also where the real growth happens.

I’ve come to believe that when things move slowly, it’s not because I’m being punished. It’s because I’m being prepared.

Sometimes God delays the blessing to develop the vessel.

In times of uncertainty, I go back to the basics:

1. Refocus the Vision – Go back to your why. Not the hype. Not the applause. The why. Why did you start? Who are you doing this for? Anchor yourself in purpose.

2. Maintain Discipline – When motivation runs out—and it will—discipline keeps you moving. Stick to your routine. Make the calls. Send the emails. Show up.

3. Embrace Small Wins – Progress doesn’t always look like fireworks. Sometimes it looks like one person helped. One new connection made. One step closer. Count those.

4. Speak Life Into Yourself – Your inner voice sets the tone. If you’re always talking defeat to yourself, it’s hard to walk in victory. Affirm the greatness in you, even when the results aren’t showing.

5. Build Community – You don’t have to walk through uncertainty alone. Find your people. People who remind you of who you are when you forget. People who don’t just clap when you win, but help you train when you’re still grinding.

To rebuild during uncertain times is one of the most courageous things a person can do. Because you’re stepping into tomorrow with no guarantees.

That takes guts. That takes faith.

I don’t know what your personal mountain is right now. Maybe it’s launching a business. Healing from a broken relationship. Rebuilding your reputation. Finding your voice after it’s been silenced. But what I do know is that the fog doesn’t last forever.

One day, the fog will lift, and when it does—you’ll realize you weren’t lost. You were becoming.

Keep your eyes on the path. Keep your heart rooted in purpose. And keep moving.

-Troy Rienstra