What If The “Missed Chance” Was Preparation

What if the most important chapter of your life hasn’t happened yet and the “missed chance” story you’ve been carrying is simply not true? I’m Mariana, and this midweek reset is for the woman who’s quietly asking, “Is this it?” after raising kids, walking through loss, rebuilding after heartbreak, or spending years in survival mode.

We sit with the lie that stops so many women, not “I can’t,” but “I’m too late.” I share the scripture that anchors me when my mind wants to rewind the past (Isaiah 43:18–19) and why God isn’t asking you to keep measuring your future against what already happened. We also slow down for honest reflection questions that uncover buried dreams, plus prayer-based guidance for when you truly don’t know what you want anymore and need God to remind you.

You’ll also hear why age is not a dealbreaker in God’s plans, how your setbacks can become preparation (Romans 8:28), and what starting over can look like when it’s not a dramatic makeover but one faithful step at a time. I close with five signs God may be calling you into a new season, five takeaways to write down, and a journaling prompt you can answer today: “If I truly believed it wasn’t too late, what would I do next?”

If this speaks to you, take my personal rebrand quiz, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more women can find the encouragement. What’s one next step you’re willing to say yes to?

Transcript

The Big Question About Your Future

0:00

What if the most important chapter of your life hasn't happened yet? What if the dream you stopped talking about, the goal you quietly buried, the woman you thought you would become isn't behind you at all? What if she's still ahead of you? I think there are a lot of women walking around carrying a silent belief they rarely say out loud. A belief that sounds something like this. I missed my chance. Maybe you spent years raising children. Maybe life didn't turn out the way you planned. Or just maybe you've experienced divorce, loss, disappointment, setbacks, or seasons that forced you into survival mood. And now you're looking at your life wondering, is this it? Did I miss what God had for me? Is it too late to start over? Amiga, if you've ever asked yourself those questions, girl, pull up a chair. Because today we're talking about why your story may be far from over and why the best thing God has for you might still be ahead. Okay, amiga, let's talk. There comes a moment when world calls you higher and you're trying to figure it out all by yourself. You're evolving, you're questioning, you're rebuilding. And maybe you're wondering, what's good? Girl, I'm so glad you're here. Welcome to Extreme Rebrand, a Mommy on the Mission podcast. A space for women ready to heal, rebuild, and walk confidently in their God-given purpose. If you're ready for your next level, then I'm your girl. I'm Mariana, founder of Mommy on the Mission and creator of the Empower Her program. And I'm ready to meet you right where you are. So pour your Capecito and sit with me for a while. This is your Cappecito Hour. Hello,

Welcome Back And A Life Reset

2:08

hello. Welcome back to Extreme Rebrand, a Mommy on a Mission podcast. I'm Mariana, your personal rebrand strategist, biblical life coach, author, and amiga, reminding you that God is not finished writing your story. And before we dive in, I want to share something that really stayed with me. But first of all, let me just say welcome back because I've been away for about two weeks. I didn't go anywhere. I was just taking a pause, taking a rest, because you know, life relifing and things start piling up. And you know, now it's summer officially in the Monterruvio household because the kids are out for summer break. And this is going to be a school year, probably with tears, because my youngest daughter is a senior this year. She is going to graduate, and we're experiencing the driver's license, her new car, her being a senior, her having her first job, all of the things. Well, now this is my fourth baby, and I do still have one more to go. But yeah, I mean, it's just like, I don't know. It's been a while since my last baby graduated. And now here, here we are, eight years later, going to experience this moment all over again. So, yeah, I took a little bit of a break, but here I am. I'm back, and we're going to go ahead and get into all of the topics because this is our midweek reset, right? And sometimes we just need some extra encouragement.

Personal Rebrand Quiz And Cohorts

3:54

But once again, before we get started, I do want to share that if you haven't yet taken the personal rebrand quiz, I highly encourage you that you take it. We've actually made some improvements to the quiz, and we are now offering three classes, three different types of classes. So we've got the Empower Her cohort, we have the Mommy Rebrand Experience cohort, and then we have Elevate Her. And so this is going to be for that Muhed is in different seasons of her life. And I do encourage you to take the quiz and schedule a phone call with me because I am scheduling interviews. The first cohorts are going to start June 12th for the Empower Her and then the mommy personal rebrand experience as well as Elevate Her will both be taking place on Saturday, June 13th. So I'm so excited about it. I can't wait to start facilitating these cohorts. And that brings me to once again what I had

When Motherhood Feels Like The End

5:05

said, you know, sharing something that really stayed with me. So last fall, I had the privilege and honor of facilitating Empower Her for Clients of Adria Women's Health and Wellness. And at the end of the cohort, I asked the women to complete a reflection form about their experience. And as I read through their responses, one answer stopped me for a moment. I don't know, it just kind of like took me back to where I was almost like 22 years ago. So one woman shared that for a long time she believed motherhood was the end of her story. Now, mind you, this is a young lady who has got two babies, and she thinks that that's it, you know, that her dreams stop there. And this happens a lot, especially for us Latinas, and maybe not just for us Latinas, but I'm gonna reference Latinas because that's what I am. But I think sometimes we we hear that we can't do anything for ourselves anymore, that we have to sacrifice ourselves because now it's for our children, right? Like tu ya no cuentas, ahora siguen tus hijos, something along those lines, right? And I just kind of like said, no, you know, and and throughout the whole Empower Her cohort, she realized that she still has so much more opportunities, right? That this is not her end of her story type of thing. It's not the end of her life, but the end of her becoming. So she had poured so much of herself, and she continues to pour herself into raising her children that somewhere along the way she stopped seeing herself beyond that role. And again, it goes back to that lie that so many of us women believe that that's it, right? And so as I continued reading the responses, I realized that she wasn't alone. I think several women expressed similar feelings. Some believed that because years had passed, their opportunities had passed too. Others felt that they that the life they had lived up to this point was all there would ever be. And they had quietly accepted that their dreams, purpose, or calling belonged to another season. And so their words made me reflect on a season in my own life when I felt the same way. I remember approaching my 30th birthday. So I'm 52, in case you want to know. So about 22 years ago, right? I was celebrating my third birthday and asking God a question that came from a very honest place in my heart. Now, mind you, this was a season where I was overcoming, you know, abuse and starting my life all over again, right? And I remember being in that closet and just pouring my heart out to God. And I asked, is this it? Is this is this all there is? Is this how my story's going to end? And I'll never forget what I sensed him saying to me, right? Like, no, it's only the beginning. And that answer changed everything for me. Because what I couldn't see at the time was that God was preparing me for a new chapter, one that would require me to trust Him beyond what was familiar and beyond what I thought was possible. And maybe that's why today's conversation feels so important. Because I know that there are women listening right now who have quietly wondered the same thing. Maybe you're in your 40s, 50s, or even 60s. Who knows? Maybe you're even in your 30s. Maybe your children are grown. Maybe your marriage is ended, maybe your career isn't where you thought it would be. Or maybe you've spent so much time taking care of everyone else that you've forgotten what you wanted in the first place. And somewhere along the way, a quiet thought settled into your heart. It's probably too late for me now. Amiga, if you've ever felt that way, then this episode is going to be for you.

Scripture That Breaks The Past Loop

9:36

All right. So before we go any further, I want to share a scripture that has encouraged me during seasons when I wondered what was next and whether God still had something new for me. And that scripture is Isaiah chapter 43, verses 18 and 19. It says, Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? Notice what God is saying there. He doesn't tell us, stay stuck replaying what was. He doesn't tell us to keep measuring our future against our past. He says, see, I'm doing a new thing, not a recycled thing, not a second best thing, a new thing. And sometimes the first step toward discovering that new thing is believing that it isn't too late. So I think one of the biggest lies women begin believing is that is not that they're incapable, it's that they're too late, too late to go back to school, too late to write the book, too late to launch the business, too late to pursue the ministry, too late to heal, too late to become the woman they once dreamed of becoming. Right? You include what you're too late is. But here's what I've learned: most women don't stop because they lack ability, they stop because they stop believing. Life happens, right? Responsibilities happen, heartbreak happens, disappointment happens, and somewhere between taking care of everyone else and trying to hold everything together, they quietly stop dreaming. And maybe that's you. And I'm sure it wasn't intentional. They just simply spent years putting themselves on the back burner while they cared for everyone else, and somewhere along the way, they never circled back to the dreams they once carried. And I can say that that's happened way too many times. So can I ask you something? When was the last time you gave yourself permission to think about what you want? Not what everyone else needs, not what everyone else expects, not what everyone else depends on, but what God may be stirring inside of you. Because sometimes a dream isn't gone. It's simply buried beneath years of responsibility. And if you're sitting here thinking, I don't even know what the dream is anymore, well, let me encourage you to start with prayer. James 1:5 tells us if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. Girl, ask God to remind you, ask him to reveal what you've forgotten, ask him to bring to the surface the things you've buried beneath responsibilities, fear, disappointment, or even survival mode. Because sometimes we spend so much time looking for answers around us that we forget to ask the one who created us in the first place. And I'm guilty of that. Because I'll go to friends, I'll go to family, I'll go to strangers, a therapist, whatever. Sometimes I go to so many other people, and I don't go to God first. So if you've lost sight of the dream, I'd like for you to start there. Because here we're gonna always point it back to God, we're gonna always point it back to his word.

Questions That Uncover Buried Dreams

13:32

So I want to pause here for a moment because I have a few questions that I want you to focus on today. So if you will humor me for a minute and don't rush answering them, just just sit with them. And before I give you some pointers, I want you to honestly reflect on these questions. So here they go. What dream have you stopped talking about because you've convinced yourself that it's too late? What goal have you quietly let go of because life got busy, complicated, or maybe even painful? And what have you placed on a shelf that God may still be asking you to pick back up? And then here's one more. If fear, age, money, or other people's opinions or past disappointments weren't factors, what would you be pursuing right now? So I want you to take a moment and really think about that. Because your answers may reveal more than you realize. Now, pay attention to whatever came to mind first. Don't dismiss it. Don't immediately start listing all the reasons it can't happen. Just pay attention because sometimes God uses recurring thoughts, recurring passions, and recurring desires to get our attention. Psalms 37, 4 says, Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Delight yourself in him. He knows what our heart is desiring. He already knows it. He just wants us to delight in him first. And then he's going to make those things happen. Because when we're walking closely with God, many of the desires he places in our hearts become clues, pointing us toward purpose. One thing I love about scripture is that God doesn't seem nearly as concerned about age as we are. We put way too many, too much emphasis on our age. But if you sound like me, you probably say, I'm not old, but my body's telling me something different, right? But that's what happens, right? God doesn't do that, He doesn't care about how old we are. I mean, like, hello, Sarah became a mother when it seemed impossible. I mean, and talk about in your 90s. Now I know I don't want to have any children in my 90s, but God honored Sarah. Moses spent four years in the wilderness before leaving Israel. Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist after years of waiting. Anna spent decades faithfully serving God before witnessing the coming of Christ. Notice something. God never asked them how old they were. He never asked if they felt ready. He never asked whether society thought their best years were behind them. What he did was he simply invited them into the next assignment. And maybe that's what he's doing with you. Maybe he's inviting you into a new chapter, a chapter that requires more wisdom than youth, more faith than certainty, more obedience than confidence.

Your Pain Can Become Preparation

17:10

Because God doesn't need you to have it all figured out. What he wants and what he needs is your willingness. So what if you didn't miss it? This thought changed everything for me. What if you didn't miss your purpose? What if you've been preparing for it? Think about everything you've survived. The heartbreak, the rejection, the mistakes, the setbacks, the lessons, the healing, the growth. What if those weren't wasted years? What if God was developing something in you all along? Many women look back and see lost time. God looks back and sees preparation. Let me ask you something. What have you overcome that someone else is still struggling to overcome? What lessons have you learned? What wisdom have you gained? What experiences have shaped you? See, many times the clues to our next season are hidden inside the seasons we've already survived. Romans 8 28 reminds us that God works all things together for good. The very thing you thought disqualified you may actually be part of your assignment. The wisdom you have today came through what? It came through experience. The compassion you have today came from your pain. The strength you have today came through your perseverance. I don't know. And now can and now God can use every piece of it. So not despite your story, but because of your story, God is going to use it.

Starting Again With One Small Step

19:24

So sometimes we imagine starting over means changing everything overnight, right? Because starting over again doesn't look the way you think. For instance, you don't have to start a new job, a new city, a new business, a complete life makeover. But often starting again begins much smaller than that. It begins with hope. It begins with prayer. It begins with believing God again. It begins with saying yes to one small step. And maybe that's what God is asking of you today. Not to figure out the next 10 years, not to have every detail mapped out, and not to know exactly how it's all going to work, just the next step. Isaiah 41, 10 says, Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. Sometimes we stay stuck because we're trying to see the entire staircase. Meanwhile, God is simply asking us to take the next faithful step. And this is actually something I wrote about in my book in the chapter titled You Can Dream Again. In that chapter, I talked about how so many women convince themselves that it's too late to pursue the dream God placed in their hearts. And that sometimes it's our own fears that stop us. Other times it's the voices around us. People may tell us to be realistic, to play it safe, or to let go of something you've carried for years. I'm just grateful that wasn't my story. When I began stepping into new possibilities, I had a circle of women who encouraged me instead of discouraging me. They pushed me forward when I doubted myself. They reminded me of what God was capable of doing. And that's why mommy on a mission exists. It exists because of the circle of women I had around me. All of the things that I talk about, I resonate with. Pay attention to the voices you're listening to in this season. Because are they speaking faith or fear? Are they encouraging growth or reinforce reinforcing limitations? Because sometimes God uses the right people to help us to see possibilities we can no longer see for ourselves. Starting again isn't pretending the past didn't happen. Starting again is refusing to let the past determine what happens next. It's waking up and saying, My story isn't over. My purpose still matters. God still has a plan for me. And I'm willing to trust him with the next chapter. I mean, that may be the most courageous thing you do this season. So

Five Signs God Is Calling You

22:49

five signs, God may be calling you into a new season. Let's go. Sign number one, you feel restless where you are. Not because you're ungrateful, because you've outgrown where you've been. Keeps resurfacing. You keep thinking about it, you keep feeling drawn toward it. So let me point you to Psalm 37:4. You feel hungry for growth. Books, opportunities, conversations, and ideas keep catching your attention. Proverbs 16:9. Number four, you're becoming aware of new possibilities. What once felt impossible now feels worth exploring. Isaiah 43, 19. And number five, you know something needs to change. You can't fully explain it, but you know God is calling you forward. Philippians 3, 13, and 14. So five takeaways from today. And these are scriptures that are going to assist you or help you with that. Okay. So I've dropped a lot of scriptures for you. So you I hope you had a pen and paper and you were writing them all down. But here's one: your purpose does not expire. Jeremiah 29:11. Delays are not denials. Habakkuk 2, 3. God wastes nothing. Romans 8 28. Starting again begins with one step. Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, one of my favorites. And number five, it's not too late. Philippians 1:6. God is still writing your story, amiga.

Journal Prompt Prayer And Next Yes

24:44

So before we end today, I want to challenge you to do something. I want you to grab a journal, a notebook, open those notes sections on your phone, and answer those qu answer this question. If I truly believed it wasn't too late, what would I do next? Would you go back to school? Would you start a business? Would you write a book? Apply for that position that you've been kind of like pushing aside, launch the ministry, have the conversation that you're afraid to have with someone. Take the first step. Whatever comes to mind, write it down. Don't judge it, don't overthink it, just write it. Because sometimes God reveals the next chapter when we're finally willing to admit what we've been carrying in our hearts. So, I mean, if today's conversation resonated with you, I want to invite you to take my personal rebrand quiz. This quiz was designed to help you identify where you are in your journey and what next step God may be inviting you to take. You don't have to figure out the entire journey today. You only need to take the next step. So, amiga, take that next step because that next step may be closer than you think. Now let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for being a God of new beginnings. Thank you for reminding us that purpose does not expire and that your plans for our lives are still unfolding. For the woman listening today who feels like she missed her opportunity, remind her that you are not finished with her story. Help her release regret, help her release comparison, help her release the belief that she is too late. Give her courage to trust you with the next chapter. Open her eyes to the new thing you are doing and help her walk forward with faith, confidence, and hope. In Jesus' name. Amen. So, amiga, your best years may not be behind you. They may be waiting on the other side of your next yes. You are not too old. You are not too late. You're not disqualified. God is still working. And remember, you're becoming the woman God already sees. I'll meet you right here next Wednesday for another episode of Extreme Rebrand of Mommy on a Mission Players. You'll find everything linked in the show notes. This isn't about fixing you, it's about aligning you. Amiga, you're not behind, you're not late. You're becoming the woman God already sees. I'll meet you right here next Wednesday for your midweek reset.