Isaiah 41:10 NIV — So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Being stuck may mean remaining in a place, situation, or environment. Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck in your personal life? I found myself feeling stuck in a place about this same time of year in 2001. Clark and I had only been married 3 ½ years. During the day I was working as a long-term substitute teacher. At night I was commuting to graduate school full time in order to complete my degree in a year. Clark and I were also living with his parents. To say I was stressed would be an understatement. I battled with bouts of sadness and worry that life would never get better. I felt stuck.

For Valentine’s Day Clark and I went out to dinner and strolled in and out of some shops downtown Georgetown all while I had a pity party about my feelings of being stuck. One of the shops we went into was a Christian bookstore. Clark encouraged me to find a book to help me with my stress. The book I happened upon, or as I now realize God led me to, was titled Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. The book became a daily practice for me to change my focus and helped me become unstuck. Clark later titled it my “stress book.” I now realize the book inadvertently was the beginning of me having the routine of a daily devotional time.

Do you find yourself stuck today? Are you remaining in a place, situation, or environment and need God’s righteous right hand to uphold you? What steps can you make today with His help, to move forward? God is right beside you as you step out of your boat of comfort and walk on water.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your righteous right hand that upholds me to get unstuck. Give me the strength and courage to step out and walk with You by my side. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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