Why I’m Pressing Pause: The Assignment That Changed My Coaching Program

I thought God was asking me to clean my house. What He was actually doing was redesigning my entire coaching framework. At the time, I had no idea that obedience in the ordinary would become the foundation for the work I’m now called to do with women.

As I write this, we’re well into January, and time is zooming by faster than ever. If you’ve been following along, you know this season has been full. Writing a Proverbs 31 devotional, hosting this podcast, raising kids, being a wife, and, now, officially coaching women through deep transformation. Something had to shift, and that something is the podcast.

The Unsidelined Life isn’t going away, but it is slowing down. Before you panic, let me explain why this pause is not a setback, but an alignment. This shift isn’t just good for me. It’s necessary for the women God is calling me to serve in this next season.

The Leap I Didn’t Plan to Take in November  

Last November, my assistant gently nudged me. “Let’s not wait until January to launch your coaching program. Let’s do it now.” I hesitated. I wanted everything to be perfect. I thought, "Why would I do this smack dab in the middle of the holidays?" And "Who in the world would join me now?"

I wanted the clean January slate, the momentum of a new year, the sense that everyone would be ready.  But she pushed, and I listened.   

We launched Healed Mom, Restored Home in mid-November, and something unexpected happened. Women showed up. Not just one or two, but over ten women from different ages and seasons of life. Their struggles looked different, but they shared one thing in common. They were in transition. God was preparing them for something more, and they knew they couldn’t get there alone.

Some came wanting a physical change.  Weight loss or fitness transformation.  Others wanted to breakthrough on how to take care of their physical homes.  Others came needing spiritual healing, renewed relationship with God. Others desired guidance to break free from wounds that kept them stuck.  And some needed all of it.  Spirit, soul and body transformation.   

Watching these women heal has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. But it also revealed something I couldn’t ignore. Something had to give. Time is a precious commodity, and God was asking me to steward it differently.

The Summer God Told Me to Stop Writing  

To understand why this coaching framework matters so much, I have to take you back to last summer. I was halfway through writing my Proverbs 31 Lady Bellator devotional. Verse by verse. All 31 verses elaborated to 31 chapters.  My kids were home for the summer, which meant constant interruptions, noise, and needs. I was trying to write, parent, manage the house, and stay faithful to what God had called me to build.

One day, overwhelmed and frustrated, I prayed honestly. “God, how is this supposed to work? I’m trying to do what You asked me to do, but my kids are slowing me down. They were keeping me from the writing, the coaching, the work.”

It felt like a contradiction. My message was about being a wife and mother while stepping into other callings, yet I was resenting my children for interfering with my purpose. That’s when God answered clearly and unmistakably. “Stop. Slow down. Pause. And clean house.” So I did.

Messes, Function, and Maintenance  

I began decluttering room by room, drawer by drawer. It took months. As I worked, something deeper started happening. God wasn’t just cleaning my home. He was showing me a pattern.

First came the messes. You can’t organize clutter. You can’t build systems on top of broken things. In my house, that meant getting rid of what no longer served us. Spiritually, it meant confronting wounds, lies, and mindsets I had avoided.

Next came function and order. Once the messes were gone, I could build systems that actually worked. In my home, that meant routines and spaces designed for our real life. In my spirit and soul, it meant new habits, boundaries, and ways of thinking aligned with who God was calling me to be.

Finally, maintenance came. This wasn’t just about staying tidy. It was about creating a sanctuary. I had always prayed our home would be a place where God’s presence was felt. But God showed me that my spirit, soul, and body also needed to become places of peace and order. Then He stopped me and said, “Do you see what I’m doing? I just laid out your coaching program. You had to walk it first.”

The Framework He Gave Me Through Obedience  

That is the foundation of Healed Mom, Restored Home. We begin with the messes. Spiritually, what wounds and lies are keeping you stuck? In your soul, what emotions, relationships, or mindsets need healing? In your body, what sickness, exhaustion, or imbalance is preventing you from functioning as God designed?

Then we move into function and order. We build systems, routines, and thought patterns that support the life God is calling you to, not the one you’ve been surviving in. Finally, we establish maintenance. A new standard. A new normal. Living from peace and wholeness instead of chaos and depletion. This isn’t theory. I lived it. And now I’m watching my clients live it, too. That’s why I know slowing down the podcast is obedience, not retreat.

You Are the Proverbs 31 Woman  

For years, Proverbs 31 discouraged me. I read about that woman and felt like I could never measure up. She sewed. She sold. She woke early. She did everything perfectly, and I could barely keep up with laundry. God changed my perspective completely. I am a Proverbs 31 woman. And so are you. It may not look like sewing garments or selling linen, but it looks like what matters. Being a wife who does her husband good. A mother who nurtures her home. A woman mindful of the needy. A kingdom entrepreneur using her gifts to solve problems and serve others. Proverbs 31:10 says, “A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman, who can find her?” Another translation calls her a woman of strength and mighty valor. That woman is you. The first person who needs to find her is you.

What’s Changing and What’s Not  

Here’s what’s changing. The podcast will slow down while I focus on coaching and finish the Proverbs 31 devotional. Episodes will come less frequently as I steward this season wisely. What’s not changing is my heart. I am still here to help women live fully into who God created them to be. To raise Lady Bellator's who know they are warriors, not sidelined. You are needed by your husband, your children, your calling, and your community. The more healed you are, the more everyone benefits.

You're a woman of strength and mighty valor. And it's time you found her.

If you're a mom, a wife, a woman who knows God is calling you to more but you're stuck, I'd love to work with you. Let's talk about what transformation could look like for you. Schedule your free 40-minute strategy session by emailing 📧 hello@ladybellator.com

🎧 Listen to the full Season 2 compilation episode of The Unsidelined Life Podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or visit the Website. Follow Eileen Noyes and connect with Lady Bellator through her platforms and community.

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