you're not stuck!

By Britnee Bradshaw (WITHIN Devotional Writer)

"For we live by faith, not by sight."
(2 Corinthians 5:7)

​One of the hardest feelings to shake is that terrible feeling of being stuck. It can happen in any area of our lives and discourage us in our walk with the Lord.

We can feel stuck in a number of ways. For example, in working a job that we hate, we can mentally have given our boss that good ole’ two-week notice, but in reality, we know the Lord hasn’t released us to leave quite yet.

Or, we can feel stuck in a season of loss, where it seems like we’ve been the “tail” more than we’ve been the “head”; “beneath” more than “above”. & we’re struggling in the waiting to finally see a solid win. Sometimes, we can even feel stuck in a string of perpetual and unhealthy cycles-the ones we can’t seem to break no matter how hard we try.

Here are some definitions of the word stuck:

• To be confused or puzzled
• A stoppage or a standstill; to be at a standstill as from difficulties
• Something causing
• To become fastened, hindered, checked, or stationary by some obstruction

When we really break this thing down, that feeling of being stuck isn’t the truth of the Gospel at all! It’s a lie that tempts us to believe that what God has done and is doing isn’t enough. It’s a lie from the enemy that the Lord wants us to be freed of.

In Isaiah 61:1, we find the truth about Jesus and His earthly assignment for every person, past, present, and future. The scripture reads this way,
“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners.”

The very nature of Jesus’ life was to bring restoration and redemption to all mankind. His death, burial, and resurrection was the ultimate proclamation of freedom--a proverbial nail in the coffin, if you will, to slavery and bondage.

So the glorious truth is that because of the sacrifice of Jesus’ life for us, we are never, ever stuck!

When you begin to feel like you are, consider that perhaps what is actually happening is that you are being stretched in your faith! Perhaps there’s something God wants to do in you and through you that requires your faith and trust in Him to grow.

What feels like a dead end could very well be the opportunity for you to step into a totally new beginning.
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In the Kingdom of God, there tends to be an upside-down effect where what we feel and what God is doing are opposites. So, with that in mind, take some time this week to survey your life.  Spend time in His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what the Father is doing, and remind your heart of the amazing things He’s already done in your life! A grateful heart always brings us back to the center of God’s faithful love for us.
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:

Isaiah 61
1 Peter 5:10
2 Corinthians 5:7
Questions to Reflect on:

1. What areas of your life do you feel stuck in?
2. How are you surrendering to the Holy Spirit while you’re in the waiting for whatever it is you’re believing God for?
3. Sometimes, our key to moving forward is wrapped in a beautiful, gift box called community :) Who are you linked to in this season? How are you connecting with them? What are their gifts and strengths that you’re able to glean from?