How Jesus Helps Us Move Forward When We Feel Stuck
Life gives us a variety of ways to experience feeling stuck. If you’ve ever gotten a vehicle stuck in mud or snow, you know the helpless feeling. The wheels keep spinning, but the car stays stuck. We could make a long list of examples of this same helpless feeling in everyday life. Stuck in traffic, stuck in pursuing goals, stuck in a job, stuck in a season of life, stuck in relationships, stuck in frustration or disappointment, and the list goes on and on. I’ve been stuck as a writer. I hate writer’s block.
The good news is there is a way to move forward when we feel stuck. However, my observation is there are a few reasons people stay stuck.
– They don’t always recognize when they’re stuck.
– They don’t always know what to do to get unstuck.
– They don’t always like to admit when they’re stuck.
Being stuck can result from an event, but it can slowly develop into a mindset. Mindsets influence the direction of our lives. We need God’s word to renew our mindset.
In John 5, Jesus healed a man who had a physical condition that made him lame for 38 years (watch this for more on healing). Jesus directed him to do something that he thought he could not do.
Stand up.
Pick up your mat.
Walk and keep walking.
Three lessons from Jesus to help us move forward when we feel stuck:
1. Weakness is an opportunity for God’s strength to show up.
Jesus said “stand up” to a man who thought he was unable to stand. What do you believe you are unable to do? Where do you feel weak? Remember, God’s grace is sufficient. His strength is made perfect in weakness. Our weakness may feel like a deficiency, but it is actually an opportunity for God’s strength to show up.
2. Step out of what is comfortable into what is unfamiliar.
Jesus said, “Pick up your mat,” to a man who was used to laying down on his mat. It was his comfort zone. Often stepping out of what’s comfortable into the unfamiliar will make us uncomfortable. It’s why it’s called a step of faith.
3. Navigating resistance builds resilience.
Jesus said “walk” to a man who thought he couldn’t walk. Once the man realized he could walk, he still faced resistance from the religious leaders of the day. We shouldn’t wait for the path of no resistance before taking a step. On the other hand, we should not be surprised when we face opposition with a step of faith. Facing opposition builds resilient faith.
Jesus gives us the ability to do what we thought we were unable to do. His strength is made perfect in weakness.