The Path to Freedom
Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 – “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
When one of our workteams was in Hendersonville, helping with the initial clean up, someone got STUCK in the mud.
Not just a little stuck. Really stuck! So much so that they needed help to get out of it. It was some weird cross between mud and quicksand.
Being stuck in life feels heavy, like trudging through mud that pulls you down with every step. It’s easy to focus on what isn’t working, replaying the same frustrations and struggles in your mind. But what if being stuck isn’t just a state of being—it’s a signal?
Brianna Wiest reminds us, “You are not stuck because you cannot change; you are stuck because you will not change.” That truth can sting, but it’s also empowering. If being stuck is about what we won’t do, then the power to get unstuck is within our reach.
We will talk a lot about getting unstuck in the weeks ahead. For now, take a few moments to explore these practical ways to being the “unsticking” process!
- Shift Your Focus:
Principle: Cognitive reframing teaches us to reinterpret situations in a more constructive way.- Instead of asking, “Why am I stuck?” try asking, “What is this stuckness teaching me?” Shifting from frustration to curiosity opens the door for solutions.
- Break the Cycle:
- Principle: The Zeigarnik Effect suggests that unfinished tasks take up mental space, making us feel overwhelmed.
- Take one small action toward progress. Even a tiny step, like organizing one drawer or writing one email, disrupts the paralysis and creates momentum.
- Challenge Your Beliefs: Beliefs shape our behavior.
So . . . Identify a limiting belief: “I’m not capable of change.”
Replace it with an empowering truth: “I have made changes before, and I can do it again.” - Create an Environment for Success:
- Principle: Behavioral psychology shows that our environment influences our actions.
- Set up your surroundings to encourage change. Remove distractions, place visual reminders of your goals, or enlist a friend to keep you accountable.
Steps to Get Unstuck
- Name Your Mountain:
- Write down what feels immovable in your life. Be specific. Naming the issue takes it from abstract to actionable.
- Identify One Small Step:
- Ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do today to move forward?” It doesn’t have to solve the entire problem—it just needs to create movement.
- Invite God into the Process:
- Pray for clarity, courage, and strength. Remember Isaiah 43:19: God is doing something new, even when you can’t see it yet.
- Celebrate Progress:
- Acknowledge every small victory. Each step forward is a reminder that change is possible.
Prayer:
God, I feel the weight of being stuck, and sometimes it feels overwhelming. Help me to see this moment not as the end but as a new beginning. Give me the courage to take one step, the wisdom to challenge what’s holding me back, and the faith to trust that You are making a way. Amen.
Action Step:
Spend 15 minutes today focusing on a specific area where you feel stuck.
- Write down the problem and the beliefs or habits keeping you there.
- Choose one small, achievable action you can take today.
- Pray over your action step, asking God for strength to follow through.
Closing Thought:
Getting unstuck doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a series of small, intentional steps that lead to big change. Trust that God is with you in every step, making a way where there seems to be none. What step will you take today to begin your journey to freedom?
Let me know how this fits with your week’s theme!