From the Edges – Stuck

Lent – Day 7 – Stuck

Morning Devotions from Pastor Calvin Cook

Scripture focus: Jeremiah 29:11-13

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Before anything else today, I needed to confess to Jesus the areas in my life where I feel stuck. I feel right now that things are good. I am in a better place than I was yesterday, or last week, or last month, meaning in a better place Spiritually in my relationship with God.

Yet, this morning I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and feeling stuck. It is coming in a variety of waves of situations and occurrences. We say we are stuck in a variety of ways; I’m not in a good place, I’m don’t know which way to turn, I don’t know what else to do, how did I get myself into this situation, I wish, I hope, I plan, but nothing is seeming to help get me unstuck.

When I realized I was in a spiritual desert, when I was crying out for God, I heard the Spirit speak, if you want what you once had, go back to that which brought you growth, peace, and contentment. That was when I made the decision to return to this morning quiet time these times of Sanctuary. Though some days are tougher than others, I realize that I need this. Right now I’m praying for the realization of what we truly need to become complete. 

So here are some steps that I am going to take and I ask you take them with me –

1. Name that which is causing this feeling of being stuck.
2. Discern the reason you are stuck. Is it important enough to keep struggling to try to get unstuck and move on.
3. What is it that is holding me back, name it.
4. Realize you are weak on your own and powerful with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
5. Ask God through prayer what is God wanting you to do?
6. Realize if God isn’t in it, it is not a blessing. 

Through prayer and the Spirit speaking to your heart realize you are uniquely, wonderfully created for the glory and pleasure of God. If what you are laboring and fretting over is not God pleasing and glorifying, move from it.  Don’t just move from it, run from it like you’re running for your life, because you actually are.

Lent is certainly a time to let go of the things that harm us and add the things of God that will build us up and make us whole.  Most importantly, as Jeremiah says pray and seek the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul.