When I look over my life, I not only see what I’ve gone through, but I see God’s hand in all of it. Even in those situations that are not so good, I can see how God worked all things together for my good. Sometimes, while we are in the middle of a situation, the pain can be so overwhelming that we not only forget what we are made of, we forget about God’s ability to carry us through it. If we are not careful, it’s easy to get stuck in the past because of its familiarity. It’s not that the past was necessarily so good for us, but we can convince ourselves that it’s better than going to something new and unknown. When we are blessed with opportunities to move forward, we can become so fixated with what we had that we miss out on the future possibilities of hope and happiness.
I’m reminded of Lot’s wife. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back instead of moving forward. They were told by the angels as they were leaving Sodom and Gomorrah, “Flee for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Genesis 19:17) Instead of believing God for what was possible, she longed for what she had in the past because it was comfortable. If you are going to get what God has for you, you must be willing to trust God and move forward even when the future is not certain and there are so many unknowns. Her disobedience cost her terribly. Will you miss what God has for you because you do not believe that better is available? Just as she remembered and chose to look back, she became immobilized. Are you stuck in the past, unable to move forward?
We get stuck in our stuff. Our lives are more than where we live, what we have, the places we work, our titles and accolades. According to the world’s standards, we may be at the top of our game and yet, we can become stuck, paralyzed from truly living a life of abundance that we’ve been promised. (John 10:10) Jesus reminds his disciples in the New Testament about Lot’s wife. “Remember Lot’s wife!” He said. “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Luke 17:32–33).” In Luke 17, Jesus states “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying, and selling, planting, and building.” They were surviving but not thriving because they had prioritized their basic needs over their spiritual needs. Many of us are torn between what the world says is important and our Faith. When we seek God’s kingdom first, all things will be added (Matthew 6:33). It’s when we haven’t made that decision that we stay in situations that do not serve us well because our priorities are out of order. Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) You must be willing to decide and move forward!
So how do you get “unstuck”?
Focus on the new thing that God is doing. “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18)
Seek God in all you do. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)
Watch what you focus on. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Believe God’s Best for Your Life. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
The Bible says that Lot was dragging his feet and the angels had to grab them by their arms (Genesis 19:16-17). There are times when God will move us when we are slow to do what is necessary for our lives! It has nothing to do with luck but God’s goodness and mercy. I’m grateful for the times I could have been destroyed by my own poor choices and God blessed me! Remember, but keep on moving, friends—don’t get stuck!