Tag: #stuck

You Were Never Meant to Stay Stuck

Do you still remember when you were young and having dreams were so natural. You didn’t have the word “impossible” in your vocabulary – every crazy dream was possible and fun!!!

The years passed, and those dreams got buried.

However, the dream never left. You left the dream.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go – Joshua 1:9

Those words were spoken to Joshua at one of his most daunting moments – stepping into Moses’ shoes, leading an entire nation into an unknown territory. After being stuck in the desert for 40 years, Joshua was called to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Be Strong

When God told Joshua to be strong, He was pointing Joshua back to the source of all strength – God’s strength.

Our strength leads to burnout. God’s strength leads to breakthrough.

Do Not be Afraid

Joshua was afraid – that is precisely why God had to tell him three times to be strong and courageous. God knew his fear was real and deafening. Fear is not a sign to stop – it is often a sign that you are standing at the edge of something significant.

Our fear is real too. Our fear sometimes speak so loud and convincing. But God’s promise is greater than our biggest fear.

Do Not be Discouraged

Joshua was discouraged, feeling inadequate to step into leadership.

We are often discouraged when our dream feels too far, too slow or too hard. But God is always patiently and faithfully working all things together – including the detours, the setbacks and the waiting seasons – for a purpose far greater than we can see.

For the Lord Your God Will Be with You

Joshua didn’t cross into the Promised Land because he was the most qualified leader. He crossed it because God was with him.

This same promise belongs to us today. Wherever a dream takes you, God is with you. The God who placed the dream in your heart is the same God who will walk with you every step of the way.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: believe that whatever dream God has put in your heart, He will be with you to see you through it. You were never meant to be stuck.

Stuck for 38 Years? Get Up and Walk

Have you been stuck so long and you can’t remember what it was like before being stuck? Or are you waiting for the perfect time or circumstances to get unstuck?

The Guy at the Pool of Bethesda

This is the Bible story of a guy who was sick for 38 years, who tried without success to enter the Pool of Bethesda to get healed. I couldn’t help but wonder, how on earth could he be stuck for so long?! Then I realize: it might not be 38 years, but there are some areas of my life that I have been stuck for the longest time!

Jesus’ Question

Jesus asked the man: Do you want to be well? John 5:6

It might seem obvious, but the man didn’t answer Jesus in the affirmative. He replied, “I have no one to help me… Someone else goes down ahead of me” – John 5:7

I can’t help feeling this reply is so familiar! We always find excuses or justification for being stuck. This begs the question: do we really want to be healed? Have we been so comfortable being stuck, and our identity has become ingrained in it, that we unconsciously sabotage our efforts towards healing? Has the mat we are lying on become our so-called “security blanket”, like how a child clings to his/her security blanket for comfort and security?

Jesus’ Command

Then Jesus said to him, “Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk” – John 5:8

The man didn’t need the Pool of Bethesda, because he has Jesus to heal him. All that is required is his obedience – to get up, pick up his mat and walk.

All of us have our little “mats” that we are lying on and keeping us stuck – limiting beliefs, fear of change or fear of failure, past hurts and unforgiveness, waiting for perfect conditions, relying on others to help us, etc. And we have our metaphorical “Pool of Bethesda” – external circumstances, traditions or rituals that we rely on.

What Jesus is commanding us to do is to get up from lying on the fake “security blanket” mat and walk in obedience and faithfulness to God. Then true healing comes, and with it, freedom.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk.