Stuck

“We will move forward when our hope for the future is greater than our stories of the past.”

“We will move forward when our hope for the future is greater than our stories of the past.”

Stuck – we’re all susceptible to it.  Stuck thinking about the glory days and how things were and wishing they were that again.  Stuck thinking about how good and safe things are in the present, not wanting to disrupt our safety of the familiar.  Stuck, maybe even paralyzed, by past hurts and pains clouding our vision, fearing that all the future has to hold is pain.

These wise words stand out to me as I read Nancy Ortberg’s Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership.  The context she is using it in is in regards to being stuck in the past and not wanting change.  I’m going to take it a little farther. 

I think about Joseph when I think about being stuck.  As you read his story he is living “stuck”.  Not only was he physically stuck as he was sold into slavery and later wrongfully imprisoned he had ample opportunities to be stuck whether it was in the longing for his father’s love or in the pain of being sold into slavery by his brothers or of being stuck in anger over being falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit.  He could have chosen to remain stuck in unforgiveness as the prime minister of Egypt, not forgiving his brothers.  There were many opportunities for Joseph to be stuck and yet we find that he is never stuck because no matter what, God is not stuck.  God is not limited by our circumstances, by our own sin or the sins of others.  God is with us in all things.  God is also not content to let us stay stuck in the past, or the comfort of the present.

In so many ways God is drawing us to the hope for the future.  Through the resurrection of His Son and the new, fully redeemed creation to come our future hope is greater.  Through redeeming the small things we get stuck in and faithfully ministering to us, he draws us to hope.  Through watching the Spirit move in supernatural ways are we brought out of being stuck and drawn to something bigger, greater and more hopeful than we could imagine.

Where are you “stuck”?  Will you allow God to show you a hope for the future than surpasses your vision now?