“Do you ever feel stuck?”
Last week as I entered my garage out of the corner of my eye, I saw something moving. Initially I thought the wind had caught a piece of paper and it was flapping around. After further investigation I realized it was a sweet baby bunny with one foot completely stuck to a sticky pad. You know the ones you use to catch mice, not rabbits! Poor little thing struggled and struggled hopping all around with his oversized new foot. He knew he was in a bind, he would work really hard to be set free, then just stop and breathe heavy for a few minutes then try again.
Over and over. He was relentless in his efforts.
This is how stuck feels. You try over and over, often giving it your best shot, working so hard only to find yourself in the same position. As I watched this bunny, I couldn’t help but identify with the poor thing. Sometimes the struggle is real!
It appeared the bunny had been stuck for a while, and after repeated attempts he was able to hop. It didn’t matter whether it was the right direction or not, he was hopping, and he was content, carrying along with him a super large sticky pad. If I would have left him alone, I think he would have settled for being trapped by this unfortunate experience. He would have embraced the larger “foot” and made adjustments to his life to accommodate such a load.
Clearly, I am not a small bunny trapped on a mouse sticky pad…or am I?
I have found myself stuck. Stuck in my fears, stuck in my doubt, stuck in the repetitive thoughts that I am not good enough. Stuck in a bad mood…the list goes on and on.
It’s confirmed, I am indeed as helpless as that poor rabbit, stuck, lugging around an oversized load that is not supposed to be there. I have a feeling, you can identify.
Getting “stuck,” isn’t always something we choose, often it is circumstances beyond our control that lead us to finding a false sense of comfort somewhere else.
Now that I have deduced us all to a bunch of rabbits who are lugging around an unsightly new accessory, where do we go from here?
How do we get “unstuck?” I have come up with 3 ways to start the process:
Recognize what is holding you back.
Acknowledge there is a better way.
Do the work to release it.
Are you stuck in fear?
“I am afraid of __________ .” (failure, loneliness, not belonging, losing control…)
Name it and know fear is not from God!
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Are you stuck in doubt?
“I don’t believe I can ___________.”
Recall what you have done already, and the One who helped you.
“I have, and I know He can.”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Are you stuck in negative thoughts?
“I am not good enough, smart enough, thin enough…”
Find truth.
Philippians 4:8 “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.”
Do the work! All that rabbit needed was someone to help him. Find someone to talk to, confide in a friend, a pastor, a counselor. We can only get “unstuck” if we want to, don’t settle, don’t agree with voice in your head lying to you and telling you this is the only way to live. Agree with the One who created you. He never intended for you to live life struggling at every turn.
Until Next Time, Courtney
