Why Am I Stuck?

Have you ever felt as if you have been battling with the same issue for years? It’s as if you (or someone you know) just never seem to be moving forward or growing during the journey, nor in your relationship with God.

Even though trials are a part of our lives here on earth, the Lord promises to bring healing and restoration. We’re clay in the hand of our Potter (Isaiah 64:8) and He’s constantly shaping us into His image. We’re not supposed to remain a lump of clay or an unfinished ‘jar’. Our Lord created life, and life brings growth. The enemy, however, will do whatever he can to stop us from growing in character and in our relationship with the Lord.

In my attempt to gain understanding into this, I realised that often the problem or the people involved become our focus, and even a part of our identity. When we constantly focus on the battle, we can’t see further than the pain, trauma, injustice or fear. It’s absolutely normal to be overwhelmed by a situation, but in time the Lord wants to guide us through the battle. And yes, people hurt us and maybe aren’t willing to change, but that shouldn’t keep us from our healing.

I was reminded of what it must be like to be caught in a whirlpool whilst trying to swim across a huge river. Before starting your swim, you most probably look across to the other side. Your goal is to get there. But while crossing the river, you get caught in this whirlpool that keeps you in one place – spinning round and round. It’s confusing and traumatic. But maybe the whirlpool is part of the way you have to go to get to the other side.

You need to stop fighting and panicking. Remember your vision of getting to the other side of the river and allow the water to take you there. You’ll get there, even if it isn’t how you’d imagined it would be.

This helped me realise that we still have a choice when we’re in a ‘whirlpool’. Are we calling out to the Lord to help us, or are we only looking at the whirlpool and forgetting that we’re on our way to the other side of the river, allowing God to grow us and build our character?

In our place of fear and pain, we can know for sure that God’s holding out His hand for us to reach up to Him. In Isaiah 43:2 the Lord gives us a promise: ‘When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you’ (NLT).

No matter where you are today, the Lord is here to help you. He’s a gentle and kind God and will guide you through whatever you’re battling with. Sometimes it takes years, but never lose heart. He’ll perfect what He started. Always keep His promises in your heart and never lose hope in His might, strength and wisdom.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I realise that I’ve been stuck in my battle. But with Your help, I choose to let go of what lies behind and I strain to what lies ahead. Help me to let go of all the injustices, and to give You my pain and trauma – please bring Your restoration and healing, Father. Whatever happens in my life, You promise to work all things for good. I lift my eyes to You, Lord. Thank You for the hope I have in You. Amen.