In Matthew 11:28-30 NIV Jesus said — Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Being stuck can mean being blocked, wedged, or jammed. Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck in your work for Christ? Very recently I have struggled with feeling stuck in my writing. Over the last 9 years of writing for Water Walkers, God has never failed to inspire me to write. He always provides a new word, new thought, or new insight for me to share. However in late December I was feeling the pressure to produce new writing and felt I had writer’s block. I couldn’t perceive that God had anything new for me to share. Was I not listening? Or was I not being open to receive His insights? It was the thick of the Christmas season and I was busy making preparations. Was I not focused on Him? I was feeling weary and burdened. I was stuck.

I shared my concerns with Julie and Ray and asked them to join me in praying for new inspiration to write. Several days later, Ray called me and shared some writing techniques he had learned from working in the newspaper industry. While I wasn’t sure the technique was right for me, I was willing to try to help me become unstuck. The next morning I applied Ray’s suggestion and the technique has reignited my fire to write. God nudged Ray to call me that day, he obeyed, and I listened. Go God! 

As we finish this Friday together let’s recall some ways I have found to help me when I feel stuck. 

• Change your focus
• Change your routine
• Cling to scripture
• Be open and listen for God to speak through others

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your guidance and direction. Thank You for sharing my burdens and giving me rest in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

@youversion

Psalms 40 NIV

Psalms 40:1-3 NIV — I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

As I shared yesterday, being stuck may mean remaining in a place, situation, or environment. Have you ever felt that way in your work environment? I found myself feeling stuck in my work as a Kindergarten teacher several years ago. Kindergarten is often a child’s first encounter with formal schooling and can prove to be difficult for some students to adapt. I had not one, but five, troubled students. Each of the students had a unique learning style, personality, and difficulty with following the rules and routines of a classroom. I had always believed God placed just the right students in my classroom each year. Either they needed me or I needed them. As the year progressed and we struggled together, I became very discouraged as I felt I was not reaching each of them. Perhaps I was not what they needed. Each day was filled with stress and worry of how to handle the situation. I felt myself slipping into a state of sadness. I felt like a failure. I felt stuck.

Then I happened upon today’s featured scripture, Psalms 40:1-3. I began to cling to the promise that God would lift me up and put a new song in my mouth, even when I couldn’t see an end to the struggle. I put my trust in Him. As the school year progressed, I developed a beautiful bond with the mother of one of the troubled students. She and I communicated daily and worked together to help regulate her child’s medication. We shared insights and strategies with one another and slowly the student grew closer and closer to me. Although his behavior had improved, his academics were failing as it had taken the majority of the school year to help him adapt to the school environment and to adjust his medication. The decision was made to retain him and after prayerful consideration I offered to have him in my class a second year so as to make his transition smoother. He and I had learned each other’s personalities and knew which buttons to not push. What a blessing it was to have him in my class a second year. I was able to watch him blossom into a successful and confident student. Clinging to scripture and trusting God had gotten me unstuck! God had lifted me out of the slimy pit and put a new song in my mouth.  

Let’s pray. Dear God, I praise You for the Scriptures that share Your promises. Thank You for always lifting me out of pits. May I always put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

@youversion

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.

@biblegateway

@youversion

Isaiah 43:16-19 NIV — This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Have you ever felt stuck? Do you feel stuck right now? Perhaps you feel like every day is the same humdrum routine. Maybe you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over. Or perhaps you are frustrated because you don’t see a way to make the same old circumstances of your life any better.

Remember the movie from 1993 titled Groundhog Day? Bill Murray plays the role of Phil Connors who is a self-centered weatherman. In the movie, Phil finds himself reliving Groundhog Day over and over. He is stuck. Phil broke the time loop by learning to put others first instead of being a narcissist.

Take some time to evaluate your feeling of being stuck. What can you change your focus to that would help you become unstuck? God is not a God of the stuck. He is a God who faithfully guides you and I. He is always working to “make a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland”. We just have to change our focus and allow Him to lead. 

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for always making a way to become unstuck. Open my heart and mind to Your guidance and direction. Help me to stay focused on You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

@youversion

Take time today to read and meditate on this week’s featured scriptures.

Isaiah 43:16-19 NIV — This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

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.

Psalms 40 NIV

Psalms 40:1-3 NIV — I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Have you ever felt stuck? This week I will share my experiences with becoming unstuck. Today, spend some time listening to the following songs and find hope in your Savior, Jesus Christ.

Stay Strong by Danny Gokey

Don’t Lose Heart by Steven Curtis Chapman

Hard Season by Matthew West

Psalms‬ ‭149‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

Join us for See you Saturday as we wrap up our week on active worship. We encourage you to worship with To You by Chandler Moore, Maverick City.