With all of life’s ups and downs, have you ever felt stuck? I’m not talking about a little stuck, I’m talking about feeling like you’re trapped in quicksand stuck. Stuck is pretty much how I spent all of 2019. Life wasn’t horrible, but it sure wasn’t great.
I’m not even sure how to accurately describe the feeling of stagnation in my mind, body and spirit. I honestly couldn’t pinpoint an area in my life where I felt progress. I wasn’t where I thought I’d be in any area of life. I was in a job that I wasn’t crazy about. I had some chronic pain in my body that’s progressively healing, but my active lifestyle has been on hold. My finances left me frustrated. My thoughts circled the same mountain for months.
I do a great job at coaching other people on how to get unstuck and yet when it came to my own life, I had the hardest time of figuring anything out. Isn’t that usually the case? It’s far easier to help someone else than it is to help ourselves. I tend to want a perfect solution that leads to a perfect outcome that’s wrapped in a perfect bow.
Toward the end of the year, I just got fed up with being stuck. The Lord gave me some ways out, as He kindly does. And then He graciously encouraged me that progress will always win out over perfection. God is not interested in perfection. His heart is for us to constantly grow and become like Him. His Holy Spirit gently reminded me of a couple of truths I easily forget.
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2 (NASB)
The Lord is in the fruit-bearing business. Everything we do and say produces some sort of fruit. Often, when we don’t see fruit, we panic and worry. It is in those times that He prunes us. He could be breaking some toxic thoughts or establishing new habits. He could be teaching us to rely solely on Him as our source. He could be stripping away pride and self-reliance. He prunes us because He loves us. He prunes us because He is a good Father. He always has our best in mind. Sometimes His best comes in the form of stuck. All we need to do is stay connected to the vine and the vinedresser will do what He does best — nourish and strengthen branches that produce much fruit.
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB)
I’ve always loved the part of this verse that says from glory to glory. It reminds me that there is one glory and then another and then another still. But it doesn’t end there. Until Jesus returns, there will always be new levels of glory that can be experienced. This glory is never about us. It is about us gazing at Christ Jesus and becoming more like Him with each passing day. This transformation isn’t designed to happen overnight. It is designed to be a relationship and a journey with Him. It is designed to happen in the intimacy of the secret place with the Lord. One thing I learned coming out of a season of feeling stuck is that whether we see movement, it’s happening. God is always on the move. He is always at work for His glory and for our good. May we learn to trust Him in seasons of feeling stuck and standing still. May we be grateful for slow and steady progress toward who He is calling us to be and what He is calling us to do.
Are you in a season of being stuck? If so, please share. I’d love to encourage you!
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I really needed to hear this word today. Thank you!! God Bless you.
Amen Betty! He is always on time!
Stuck, that’s exactly what I am. I had to retire and now I am trying to fill my days with a purpose. So, until I get there, yes I am stuck too. I get it!
Madeline,
Praying God gives you a purpose. I volunteer with a local food bank & assist them in putting together meals several times a week. There are elderly who could use companionship. Asking God to help you fill your days for His glory.
Blessings 🙂
Thank you for sharing Madeline! Praying God fills you with His love, purpose, wisdom and guidance!
This is right up my alley. Thank you for this encouraging message!
My pleasure Ket! Blessings!
Hi Karina, thanks for sharing. How encouraging it is to know that God is always with us. He keeps us in all our ways. Even when we feel, or are stuck. The holding patterns of life, being right there, staying right there until God has prepared everything for us to move forward.
Those times don’t always feel good, but can surely work for our good.
I’ve been feeling stuck for a little while now.
I am so glad to have read what you shared. Thank you for sharing your experience of, ‘stuck’ and encouraging us.
I like how you entitled this piece, “Stuck? Or are you experiencing slow and steady growth”? That helps me change my perspective from thinking things won’t change, to knowing, in God’s perfect time it will change. No more stuck (s – staying, t- tucked, u- under, c- circumstances,
k- knowingly) , but steady constant growth in Christ, becoming more like Him.
I like that Karina, a change of perspective.
Blessings to you my ‘stuck no more’, sister
That is so good Rochelle! May this year bring freedom and movement forward into God’s purposes for us!
Wonderful words, Karina!! Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. I needed to read this this morning.
Blessings to you.
Thank you Susan! Blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing!! Every word of this resonates with me. I am a coach to my clients, an encourager, and often feel stuck, and wonder “how can I help others, when I am in need myself!?!?” I have printed this, and will use it as a reminder everyday, that God is working on my progress, and I don’t have to be perfect in the process!!!! As I wrote that it reminded me of saying that same thing to my Personal training and Yoga clients “this is a process, not protection! Try to feel the progress from class to class, in your body, mind and spirit!” God bless you!
Jody, thank you so much for reading and sharing! Praying for God’s grace and hope in your process! Blessings!!!
Karina,
I think everyone feels stuck at some point. Right now my poor hubby is sort of stuck in his job-weekend (Sat-Mon) CT tech local hospital. It’s getting harder to do that job. So much stress & now dealing with Covid patients-even more. Can’t seem to get an outpatient CT job in the area-he’s been with hospital 33 years. The upside to this is that he gets 4 days off a week. We know that God is working all things out for His glory. In His perfect timing hubby will get a different job.
I have felt stuck at times also. Lately I’ve been enjoying steady growth. God gave me a good part-time job two years ago. Since then I have volunteered with Relay for life & started helping with a local food bank several nights a week. Plus doing on line Bible studies. Praying for ALL who feel stuck in any way. May God do His perfect work in you & show you some steady growth.
Blessings 🙂
Thank you Beth! Praying that for you and your husband as well!
Karina thank you for being so honest and sharing your heart. On stucked. I find it hard as Follower of Jesus. To become on stuck when get I am so tired. Or my day been so busy. I can’t pray or read God’s word. I get stuck in that rut of feeling I have let God down. Because I have haven’t made time for him. For reading his word and prayer. As God never let me know. I get stuck or hung up on that. It doesn’t happen that often. But when it does it annoys me. God has said to in the past not to get hung up on it. But to make sure I don’t get so busy in my day. That I don’t have time for God. As tiredness can take over. Were I get stuck in guilt. That I didn’t make time for God. So I am now planning things in my different. That if I know it is going to be a busy day. I say my prayers when making the tea during the day. Then I after that. Have about an hour or two hours. Before tea Left it then I spend it with God doing my readings and reading God’s word. I feel so much better. I don’t get into that suck mood. Were I feel guilty that I not spent time with God in prayer and his word. As after tea then I have time to relax if not going out. Before bed to rest and unwind if the day been busy. I feel so much better and happy. I spent the time with God in prayer and his word. As Satan the Old Devil. Will try to make my day so busy I don’t have time for God. So if I do it like that. I find myself knowing. I am close to God. Like he is always close to me at all times. Then my day flows better. I don’t let tiredness then stop me from spending time with God. My spiritual life is then so much better. As all I want to do is live for God serve him. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx
That is so good Dawn! Praise God for leading you into how He can spend time with you. May those times continue to be sweet and fruitful!
Yes. Slow and steady wins the race. I need to focus on staying in my lane and running the tace He has set before me. Slow growth is still growth. Slow progress is still progress. Most often our best fruit comes after years of planting and sowing good seeds. If we keep tending our gardens with patience and love, we will bear much fruit.
Amen and Amen Jodi!
I loved this, thank you Karina!
It was my pleasure Courtney! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this testimony. I’m feeling stuck. Might feel like being stuck in quicksand. ( I’ve never experienced that.). I’m trying to care for my independent minded and acting mom who’s memory is not as sharp as it used to be. Best for her to be with me than alone. My elder brother recently suffered a major stroke. I was recently involved in a life changing event that requires physical therapy. So much, yet God knows how much we can bear. Asking and praying for discernment, guidance, and healing. Praise God for his goodness and mercy.
Olivia, that is a lot. Thank you for sharing! Praying for God to lighten your load. May He overwhelm you with His peace and grace. May He bring you sweet community to support you.
Thank you Karina for such a beautiful perspective of feeling stuck. I often feel stuck. I admit I struggle to have hope when I don’t see fruit in the areas that concern me.
I also feel stuck in difficult relationships where I feel I am failing to love like Jesus. I struggle to enjoy God when I fail where it matters most but feel powerless to be better.
I see your encouragement to be still in the pruning trusting God is faithfully at work.
Thank you for sharing Catherine! Praying God lifts you out of every place you feel stuck and places you into the ease of His love, grace and mercy.
Stucker than a tractor in the middle of a tilled up field on a rainy day.
Like you, I tell people how to get unstuck. And I’m rather good at it, so I’ve been told.
And yet, I can’t seem to help myself…or apparently allow God to help me either.
I need a clear one pan of action & the self control to be obedient.
Thanks for praying for me.
Thank you for sharing Rachel! Praying the Lord does a mighty work in you and brings you freedom, hope and breakthrough!