There’s very little that is more debilitating than being stuck in a bad situation, and feeling as though you can’t do anything about it. My experience is that many people are feeling this way, but they’re hiding it. There was a time when I would be surprised by those who put on a public face but in private told me about their deepest fears and about some of the issues that were weighing them down. This is still common place, but now, as I draw nearer to God through the Holy Spirit, I can often sense a person’s burden before they utter a word, despite the camouflage of smiles they use to cover their pain.
The Christian life has requirements that are non-negotiable. In other words, there are some necessities and disciplines that we simply will not be able to get around. As parents, we understand childlike behaviors. We know that often children cry, whine, and throw tantrums because they can’t get their way. As children grow into adults, we still cry, whine, and throw tantrums. We just manage to do it in a way that usually doesn’t call as much attention to ourselves. We’re more mature about it, but the bottom line is that we’re all God’s kids no matter our age, and sometimes we throw fits because we don’t want to confront what He’s calling us to confront. We don’t want to line up with the things that God’s standard requires.
Heavenly Father is a God of order. He doesn’t have anything to do with starting confusion and mayhem. It’s been said many times that order is the governing ethos of heaven. As Christians, we not only must accept that order is God’s nature, but we must allow for the reality that the more room we make for God in our lives, the more order He’s going to bring into our existences. Sometimes, not all the time, but more likely than not, this feeling of being stuck is a symptom of either resisting or not being knowledgeable about the order and organization God wants to bring to us.
Heavenly Father doesn’t need us to be perfect, because He’s already all-powerful and perfect. Whatever we need to be and do what He wants us to be and do, He can provide. 2Corinthians 9:8 (NLT) tells us, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” Again, we don’t have to be perfect, but we do have to possess faith in our Lord’s ability to work in and through us. Philippians 2:13 assures us that He works within us to will and do of HIS good pleasure. Our responsibility is to make ourselves available to Him.
Being stuck is often a mirror of our refusal to be available to God in some area of our lives. Spiritual maturity will press us to see this from the lens of truth and accountability. God’s goal for all of us is to grow up into Christ, to be more like our Lord and Savior so that the level of which we might bless and sow into others increases. You and I don’t do the heavy lifting on this, but it is essential that we recognize that obtaining fuel and power to get unstuck will mean that we’ve got to be willing to move; and do so based on God’s directive and guidance.
The other piece of overcoming being stuck is more important than perhaps any issue we’re dealing with today. It is the reality that the level of which God wants to bless His people is unprecedented. The blessings He has in store for you exceed whatever breakthrough you’ve been praying to receive, but God’s order is supreme. He places the highest value on our spiritual growth in Christ. Therefore, there will most certainly be some aspect of the way we’re currently thinking, speaking, or acting that must be crucified, so that the nature of Christ increases within you.
Being stuck is a temporary setback that can be used for a long-term, beneficial gain. This is only if we realize that through our thick-as-molasses circumstances, God can teach us a thing or two about responding to Him quickly, instead of crossing our arms and waiting for Him to respond.
He’s already told us what to do. In James 4-7(NLT) He said, “7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” It’s useless to struggle against quicksand, it only causes us to sink further. Heavenly Father wants us humble and pliable to His Will. As we submit ourselves in obedience to Him, He’ll lift us higher, and we’ll walk with greater confidence and commitment in His love.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“How to Overcome Being Stuck” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.