When You Can’t Start, God Hasn’t Stopped

Dawn Swayne
Dec 31, 2025
2 min read

By Dawn Swayne

2 minute read.

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." Zechariah 4:10

Man with ADHD having trouble with task initiation in need of Christian ADHD Coaching

The ADHD Reality

There are days when starting feels impossible. Not because you’re lazy or you don’t care, but because your brain can’t see the end of what you’re being asked to begin!

For adults with ADHD, especially faithful, conscientious Christians, this can open the door to a quiet shame:

“Why can’t I just do the thing?”

"Why can't I be a better steward of my time?"

“Other people don’t struggle like this.”

"God must be disappointed.”

But difficulty starting for those of us with ADHD is not a spiritual failure. It is usually an executive functioning reality that is very "ADHD normal" and is caused by our neurodivergent design (brain chemistry).

The ADHD brain can thrive when it has a preview before beginning.

Clinically, this struggle is called task initiation + time blindness.The ADHD brain tends not to activate from importance (“this matters”). It tends to activate from clarity (“I know what done looks like”).

When there’s no clear finish line, our brains can stall—not out of rebellion, but confusion.

Try This: A 3-Step Prayer Practice for Task Initiation (2–5 minutes total)

1. Short Prayer

“Lord, You see what feels foggy to me. Give me just enough light for the next step—not the whole staircase, because You know I can get overwhelmed by the whole staircase!”

2. Tiny Action

Ask one question out loud or on paper:

“What does ‘finished’ look like for the next 10 minutes?”

Write 3 bullets max. Not a plan. A preview.

3. 2 Reflection Verses & Question

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." Zechariah 4:10

"For we are God’s masterpiece [or workmanship], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Where might You be inviting me to clarity through a preview, Lord, so that I can join You in Your work right now, and so I can begin this good work You have joyfully set apart for me to do?

A Client's Story: Why Christian ADHD Coaching Matters When You Can't Start

I recently worked with a college-aged client who felt stuck before the semester even began. Not because they didn’t care—but because every task felt undefined.

Once we clarified what “done” looked like, something shifted. The relief was visible. The avoidance melted. The work became at the very least possible.

Nothing about their intelligence changed, we simply reframed the task in a way that allowed their intelligence to join the work.

And that’s how God often works—through provision, not pressure. He is with you. He rejoices to see you begin!

If this resonated, I created a free resource to help you understand what Christian ADHD Coaching can do for you, and help you move from stuck → started without shame:

👉 Download: “What Christian ADHD Coaching Can Do for You”