Do you ever feel stagnant? Like you are trying to accelerate, but going nowhere? What do you do when you feel stuck?
I know I can sometimes feel this way, I wonder, “Am I making a difference? Serving a purpose? Changing lives? Impacting the world? Is my life adding up to anything meaningful?”
Normally it’s when I have been rejected and I feel dejected,
or when I am down and start looking around,
or when I see the progress of man and start feeling like a scam.
It’s these times that I feel like a car just spinning it’s wheels – spinning round and round – but getting nowhere. I push and I push – but somehow I still stay stuck. No matter how hard I slam that gas pedal, I still have no idea where I am headed.
It’s aggravating. Frustrating. Demoralizing.
It doesn’t matter if I steer in the right direction, because the only direction I feel I am headed is – nowhere.
For much of my life, I sludged around in the mud. I worked in jobs that never satisfied. I arrived with a smile – and left with a frown. I felt purposeless. Passionless. And, disappointed in myself.
During this time, I realized:
To live without cause, is to feel like a fraud.
To not make a difference, is to become indifferent.
To fake like you’re okay is to put on a good play.
To not see results, is a personal insult.
But, this is not how God intends us to live. God desires us to be authentic, patient and enduring.
Yet, so many days, I return to this place of “stuck”. I may want bigger progress. More lives changed. I may want to do better spiritually. Or to be a better mom. Or to have deeper relationships. Or I want to feel closer to God.
Often, I just feel stuck.
But, God’s best sermons aren’t delivered at church they are delivered during these moments – these moments of “stuck”.
It is here where we are forced to wait and be still.
It is here where we can focus – on Him.
It’s in these places of “wait” where God’s work really gets started. This muddy ground is his best working ground. It is here, where he transforms us and molds us – growing us in patience, endurance and perseverance.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)
It’s here we grow and sow. As we grow in patience we sow faith. As we let go of fear (often the fear of mediocrity), true purpose surfaces. It is here we find – our calling.
The bottom line of any true calling is pleasing and serving the Lord.
The second we let go of fear and indifference – we start making a difference.
We start to understand that he is at work –
in us – instead of us demanding to have him work – through us.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4)
God is training you for greatness.
He is sovereign over all.
He is working his plan from beginning to end even when you can’t see it.
He is always at work.
Just because you can’t see doesn’t mean he can’t.
He decides the proper time to exalt us.
We can wait on him. Even if that time of exaltation is at heavens door, we can still trust in his plan.
Let’s not miss the moment. Because the most important calling for our lives is not the one we dream of – but the one that he has already placed in front of us for this exact moment.
Let’s call out to the Lord. He will help us. His words will guide us.
Because when we stop focusing on us, and our circumstances – and we start focusing on him and his glory – this is when we see things through a new light.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Ps. 32:8)
Our wheels will stop spinning, our gas pedal finally gets a brake and our lives start moving forward, because God is at work to move us to destinations we never expected.
Kelly, you are so right. I have found that in those stuck times, God is desiring to do a work in me, so He can then work through me. He wants me to be still and listen to Him, be taught by Him, be nurtured by Him. I am learning to trust Him in the stuck and in the ‘full steam ahead’ times! Blessings to you.
That is so right Leah. God does want you to trust and abide in him. I love how you mentioned him nurturing you. That is exactly how our God is!
“But, God’s best sermons aren’t delivered at church they are delivered during these moments – these moments of “stuck”.” Wow, Kelly. God is using your words to drive this message home in my heart today. Last week in writing a blog post was one of those “stuck” moments. And it drove me to my knees again and again. He walked with me and talked with me each and every word of the way. And when it was all said and done, I knew He approved. I knew He was using it to teach me. Nothing is a failure if God’s hand is in it. Thank you, once again, for your wonderful encouragement and inspiration.
Thanks Sabra. I am glad his message is speaking directly to you. You know what joy that is to hear as a writer! Praying over you right now. May God richly bless you.
Kelly, I love that right in the middle there is the word ‘authentic’. I think if more people could grasp that God wants us to be real not outwardly upright then we would see much more God in each other and would love one another much more naturally. It is the mask or church face which causes the confusion and this is not from God. That has little to do with being stucj but it really jumped out to me. Bless you for your great words x
I am delighted that these words spoke life Tania. I agree, we need to get real about being real. Enough facades. I am right there with you.
Kelly, amen! What an encouraging post! Love this…”He is working his plan from beginning to end even when you can’t see it. He is always at work.” So true, so comforting…many blessings to you ❤️
Thank you. He is the master worker, the master carpenter – always pounding away to chisel us to become more and more like him!
Kelly, thanks for cheering us on to turn to Him when we feel stuck!
You bet! This is a pure joy to do.
Even when we don’t feel it, God is at work. I love how you realize that the moment when we shift our focus from self to Savior we get “unstuck”! He is doing a great work through you as you gather women who share the gift of encouragement! Keep running your race! He is working behind the scenes and hearts are being moved.
That is exactly it! We make it all about us and stay stuck until we realize it is all about him. Have a blessed day Mindy. He is working behind the scenes for you and for me!
I was in that place through the holidays. In fact, after Christmas I went for several weeks without writing or posting anything! Then one day, I took a walk. I breathed in the fresh air, turned my face to God, and called out to Him. His peace enveloped me, and I begin to get ideas for writing once again. Thank you for sharing this post today. It is definitely something everyone can relate to- especially writers:) Blessings!
How beautiful. He was waiting, so that you would wait on him. I love that. There is power in that. I am delighted that he is pouring powerful promises through you again!
It’s interesting that while the sermons we hear on Sunday are always “written/spoken to us” (much like “this song was written for me!), it is the same message that has always been there. We just don’t listen. We scramble around, get upset, worried, frustrated and then on Sunday we decided to give it to God. Why do we wait until Sunday? Something I know that I need to work on too!
Farin
Amen! There is no need to wait, because God is always waiting. SO true Farin. He loves us so!
Kelly, you don’t ever have to wonder because you are definitely making a difference, serving and leading in your purpose, and impacting and changing lives all around the world, mine included. I am always inspired and encouraged by you. So very grateful for you! Love you, my friend! Infinite blessings to you, Love!
Tai, your words mean so much to me. SO SO much. I hold them tightly and I thank you for them. I so badly want to make waves in God’s kingdom on earth. So thankful for you.
As I read this post, all I could think is, “Why are we girls so hard on ourselves?” We live in such an outcomes-based society…yet, sometimes I think the Lord’s only true desire for us is Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We are all so guilty of the desire for over-achievement…we want to BE someone…we want to MATTER. We already matter though. I think keeping the house clean for my man is as much achievement in spirituality as blog followers! It’s really in the little stuff where we serve God best.
We are right? We are so hard on ourselves. We hold ourselves to such a high and sometimes impossible standard. I love that Micah verse. You are so right; let’s keep it simple. Thanks Stephanie!
Oh yes… this: “To not make a difference, is to become indifferent…”
Lord, let this truth take root, stir us up, but also remind us that we ARE making a difference… we matter… and we partner with You in all we do! Remind us that when we are ‘stuck’ – even then, You are at work! Amen, my friend! Amen!
We DO matter! Right on Karrilee. We are so valuable to our Lord. He cares and he loves and he will provide for us. Thank you for this word.
Love this Kelly…yes, I think His best sermons often come through our being “stuck”. Isn’t it so amazing to turn around and realize just how much He was at work through those circumstances? Thanks for this!
Angela, he is working it all out. If only we REALLY knew how much he did. I think we would be astonished. I hope you are having a great day.
I’m feeling stuck right now and your post has really breathed God’s truth over me today! Thank you Kelly 🙂
I am delighted by this Ruth! What joy it is to even be able to convey his words. I am humbled.
This was encouraging to read Kelly. Thank you for your sweet words. Yes, it seems that the most spiritual growth happens in those times when we feel stuck, and then reach out to the Lord. His purpose for our lives is something really special.
It is special. It is so special that we almost miss it if we don’t open our eyes up to the fact he may even want to take us to somewhere different.
You are so right, Kelly. God always has a purpose, whether we’re in a pit or on a mountaintop. He never ceases to use us and give each moment purpose!
He knows. There is so much comfort in knowing that he knows. Thanks Katy!
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)
Sometimes it is hard to wait when we feel stuck. And often we are not stuck but just learning through the stickiness until His word and His purpose so sticks to our hearts that we are changed forever.
Sometimes during those seasons when I have felt stuck it was shortly thereafter that He showed me how much work He had done in my heart…bringing me closer to Him, helping my relationships to heal, giving my work more meaning.
Stay in the moment, dear friend. He has you right where He needs you to be…
Love, hugs and many blessings!! #RaRaLinkup
Thank you Sheila. He is always at work producing this in us. Thank you for this verse. He is so much more about heart work than our life work – that’s for sure! I love you Sheila. May the Lord bless you today!
I needed to hear these words today, Kelly:
“God’s best sermons aren’t delivered at church they are delivered during these moments – these moments of “stuck”.
Amen! Thank you for reminding us that it’s not about where we envision going, but where God has predestined for us to be. Blessed by your encouragement to re-focus and trust in Him. Thank you!
I love the idea that the Lord knows where we are going Tina, don’t you? He is so good and so much better than we ever expect. I hate to think that I box him in sometimes.
I just have to say thank you. It was powerful reading your post . Timing, action and powerful attraction to each word I read. I usually do not read blogs. Holy spirit lead. I need to find my purpose. I do know that I need to invest in myself generously ,knowing the payoff comes later.
GOD BLESS YOU!!