STALLED – Part 2
July 9, 2025
Scripture: “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.” — Psalm 40:2 (NIV)
One of my first cars was a Dodge Omni with a standard transmission and a 3-speed gear shift. I was recently telling some of my younger friends about it—they’ve never had to learn how to use a clutch, shift gears, or balance the two on a hill without stalling. On straightaways, driving was easy. But at hills and stop signs? It was a different story. There were plenty of times I stalled the car.
One particular memory stands out. A friend and I were camping in the mountains and accidentally drove off the main road into a wet, muddy area. Realizing my mistake, I tried to shift gears without losing momentum—but I stalled the engine. That stall caused us to sink deeper into the mud. Every attempt to get free only made it worse. The tires spun, digging us in further. My friend tried pushing, but nothing worked. Eventually, we had to walk for help. Thankfully, we found another camper with a four-wheel drive who pulled us out and got us back on our way.
That experience taught me a life lesson: when you stall, you can get stuck !
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on that truth being stalled and getting stuck. Sometimes, we stall in our faith journey—whether from poor choices, detours off the path God laid out for us, or simply because we stop listening to the Holy Spirit. We try to fix it ourselves. We spin our wheels. We sink deeper into the muck of the world, the mire of distractions, discouragement, and sin. Before long, we realize we can’t get out on our own.
That’s when grace meets us.
The Holy Spirit isn’t just a quiet presence; He is our Helper, our Rescuer. When we stop relying on our own strength and start depending on the One who was promised to guide and empower us, we discover the way out. The Holy Spirit pulls us up, cleans us off, and sets us back on the road—His road.
But we must learn to listen. To trust. To stay in step with the Spirit, even when the road is uncertain or steep. Because if we don’t, we risk stalling again—not just in inconvenience, but in spiritual drift.
Reflection Questions:
Is there an area of your life where you’ve stalled?
Are you relying on your own strength—or calling out for the Holy Spirit’s help?
What would it look like to fully trust the Spirit’s direction today?
Can we pray through this together?
Lord, I confess I’ve tried too often to get out of the mud on my own. I’ve stalled and spun my wheels. Thank You for sending Your Spirit to guide and rescue me. Help me to listen, to trust, and to follow You in all things—not just the easy parts. Set my feet on solid ground again. Amen.
More on being Stalled tomorrow –
Thanks for reading and if there is anything we can be praying through together reach out.
Pastor Calvin
Thoughts from the Edges 
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