Have you ever felt stuck in your finances, life purpose, connection to yourself, others or God? If you’ve ever felt like you’re wading through thick mud, unable to make progress or find clarity, you’re not alone.
We all go through times of feeling behind, stuck or confused. In this particular season on earth, it seems like the enemy has amplified this feeling, striving to make us believe we’re so deeply mired in our challenges that there’s no way out.
But what if I told you that there’s a different narrative? If your spiritual eyes were completely open, you would perceive the incredible surge of God’s angelic and spiritual activity around you. You would understand that you are enveloped by His love and guidance and are anything but stuck.
Today I am going to give you six spiritual keys to keep you pressing on, to get unstuck and untethered by the enemy:
1. When the enemy tries to trap you, remember the Red Sea moment—trust in God’s timing! In Exodus 14:21-22, the Israelites, led by Moses, found themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s advancing army and the Red Sea. But when all seemed lost, God parted the waters, allowing His people to cross on dry ground.
Key to Getting Unstuck: Faith for a God Intervention: When circumstances surround you and you feel trapped, remember that God can make a way when there seems to be none. His timing is impeccable. Sometimes, He allows us to reach a point of desperation so that when He intervenes, we know it was unmistakably Him. If you’re feeling stuck, lean not on your understanding but trust in His timing.
2. When you are surrounded by the wilderness and can’t see your future in the midst of the wild, embrace the wilderness—growth through trials. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years, a journey of growth, testing and dependence on God. During this time, God provided manna from heaven, teaching them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Key to Getting Unstuck: Recognizing God’s Process in the Wilderness: Remember the wilderness is a season. Thriving in wide-open spaces is your lot in life, not a seasonal time of refining or preparation. The wilderness periods in our lives, though tough, are opportunities for spiritual growth. It’s in these times that we draw closer to God and learn to depend on Him wholly. If you’re in a season of feeling “stuck,” maybe it’s a wilderness season where God is refining, teaching and preparing you for what’s ahead. Embrace it.
3. God uses what the enemy intends for evil against you for your good (Rom. 8:28). This calls to mind the story of Joseph—from pit to palace (Gen. 50:20). Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, faced years of hardship, betrayal and imprisonment. Yet, he rose to be second only to Pharaoh in Egypt, ultimately saving his family and many others from famine. He recognized that what was meant for evil, God used for good.
Key to Getting Unstuck: God is going to use everything for you. It’s easy to get disheartened when we face challenges. Yet, God has a remarkable way of using our trials for a greater purpose. If you’re feeling stuck in a “pit” of life, remember Joseph. Remain faithful, and in time, you’ll see how God can turn your situation into a platform for His glory.
4. When you are in what feels like paralyzing circumstances, the only thing you can do is listen and wait. Recall the paralyzed man at the pool—taking initiative in faith (John 5:1-9). Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool called Bethesda. Here, a multitude of disabled people waited for the stirring of the water, as it was believed an angel would descend at certain times to stir the waters, healing the first person who entered afterward. Among them was a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and learned how long he had been in that condition, He simply asked, “Do you want to be healed?” (v. 6b). The man explained that he had no one to help him into the pool. Jesus responded, “Rise, take up your bed and walk”.” ” (v. 8b). And the man was healed.
Key to Getting Unstuck: Sometimes you are confusing being stuck with a waiting on God period. Sometimes, feeling stuck is compounded by waiting for external circumstances to change. However, Jesus calls us to take initiative in faith. Rather than waiting is never passive, we should actively seek Him, listen to His guidance and take steps, no matter how small, in faith.
5. When you are imprisoned in an area of your life, like sin, broken relationship, dead end job and so on, use praise as a weapon (Acts 16:25-26). Paul and Silas were falsely accused, beaten and imprisoned. Instead of despairing, they began to pray and sing hymns to God. As they praised, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, immediately opening all the doors and unfastening everyone’s chains.
Key to Getting Unstuck: You can worship, pray and praise your way into a new place. Praise is a powerful weapon. Even in our darkest moments, when we feel the most stuck, lifting our voices in praise can usher in divine intervention. The spiritual atmosphere shifts, chains break and situations turn around when we worship in the midst of trials.
6. When what you are called to do has no pathway, and God calls you to walk supernaturally. You are stuck in the natural circumstances, but God gives you an option that doesn’t exist outside of him. This involves focusing on Jesus amid the storm (Matt. 14:28-31). After feeding the 5,000, Jesus sent His disciples ahead in a boat while He prayed alone. Late at night, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water towards them. Peter, eager and bold, asked to come out on the water to meet Jesus. As he focused on Christ, he miraculously walked on water. But when he shifted his gaze to the stormy winds, fear crept in, and he began to sink. Jesus immediately reached out and saved him, reminding Peter of the importance of faith.
Key to Getting Unstuck: God is going to have you step on substance that just didn’t work to be walked on before. You will go a new way. When facing tumultuous circumstances, it’s easy to fixate on the problems, causing us to feel overwhelmed and stuck. The key is to shift our focus onto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. By keeping our eyes on Him, we find the strength and courage to walk above our situations rather than being drowned by them.
In all of the ways we can get stuck, whether it be because of our own decisions, oppression against us or even entrapment by the enemy, God will be with you, and He will speak to you just as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV): “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
In this passage, Paul acknowledges the various trials and challenges he and other believers face. Even though they may feel stuck amid these hardships, they are never truly defeated because of the power and presence of Christ in their lives. This Scripture serves as a powerful reminder of God’s sustaining grace, even in the most difficult times.
Not only that, but you are already winning in this area, even if it doesn’t feel like it, because when you hand God your spiritual battle you are more than a conqueror:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37-39).
Despite the challenges that may make believers feel stuck or overwhelmed, Paul assures them of the unbreakable bond they share with Christ. The love of God is a force that nothing in creation can sever, and it’s this love that empowers believers to overcome any obstacle.
You have God’s Spirit in you, and He will give you that spiritual grit to press on. You are not really stuck. Feeling stuck is a universal human experience, but it doesn’t have to define your journey. God’s Word is filled with stories of deliverance, breakthrough and transformation. When you align yourself with these truths, you won’t just feel unstuck; you’ll become unstoppable!
Are there rough places in your life that you can’t seem to move beyond? Read Linda S. Mintle’s book Getting Unstuck.
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Shawn Bolz is a TV and podcast host, an author, producer and a Christian minister. He has been leading conversations in the church, entertainment industry and in social justice that have helped believers connect their faith to culture in a transformative way. Shawn’s deeply connected yet humorous style of speaking, media hosting & coaching through his unique expert perspective has brought him around the world to meet with churches, CEOs, entertainers and world leaders.
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