I’m Stuck in a Rut and It’s Great (Wait What?!)

May 13, 2013 2 Comments

If you’ve ever heard the saying, stuck in a rut, that’s exactly how I have been feeling.  And if you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut, then you know the feeling.  It’s not the greatest feeling in the world.  I have never heard someone say, “I’m stuck in a rut and its great!”  That would just be weird, wouldn’t it?   I must confess something, I have been stuck in a rut.  I haven’t been in God’s word, I haven’t been having my usually chats with God, and I haven’t been going to church regularly.  My time with God seemed more like a to-do list.  That seemed to be a place I have been before.  When I was younger, I thought the farther you got in your Bible reading guide, the more God would like you.  Don’t get me wrong, using Bible reading guides is a great way to get into God’s word and hear from Him, but I was using it more as a to-do list instead of getting into God’s word.  And I was missing something, God already loved me so checking things off my list wasn’t going to increase God’s love for me.

So how did I let myself get into such a pickle?  I was searching for a church and I was feeling discouraged and lost.  I had been looking for a church that had more young people and I hadn’t seem to find one that God would have for me.  I just stopped going to church.  I felt like I was wondering in a desert for awhile because I felt far away from God and far way from His community of believers.  After 6 months, I went back to a church that I use to go to.  I felt weird because I hadn’t gone there for a while; I didn’t want people to think bad of me.  Praise God, I was welcomed back and I felt God’s love wrap around me.   I was talking to a sweet lady from my church.  She is wise beyond her years and she spoke truth into my life this past week.  I told her how discouraged I was and how I hadn’t even been writing on my blog.  I told her I had no inspiration anymore.  She reminded me that God has given me the gift of writing and when I was far away from Him and His word, the inspiration He had given me wasn’t there.  *ding ding ding, we have a winner….when I was walking closer with the Lord, He gave me the inspiration to write.  When I wasn’t close to Him, my inspiration was gone.  I should have figured this out a lot sooner…wake up, girl!

Sunday morning, I felt led to go up during the invitation and get right with God.  I still feel like I have one foot left in my rut, but I am definitely ready to get out.  So why would I put such a ridiculous title on this post?  Because as much as its really uncomfortable and sometimes miserable to be stuck in rut, its great because it reminded me of how much I need God in my life.  Everything in my life was going haywire because I wasn’t right with God.  I need to be walking hand in hand with my Savior or else things are going to be out of control. I was meant to have a growing, thriving relationship with my heavenly Father.  I am slowly learning.  If only I didn’t have such a thick skull, then maybe it wouldn’t take me so long haha ;)

We are all imperfect people who are adored by a perfect, loving Heavenly Father.  Its okay to be real and honest with each other.  That’s what I learned that Sunday.

Filed Under: My Life Tagged With: , , , ,

Exercising Our Faith Muscle

July 15, 2012 3 Comments

(Wow, its been forever since I have blogged.  Summer classes, work, the list goes on…has been keeping me busy!  I am alive, so don’t worry haha!)

My favorite part of the day is the time I before I go to bed.  I love the time I have to read my Charles Stanley devotionals and Bible and to have quite time with God.   This week has been a challenging week.  I was in need of some divine encouragement.  While reading my devotional one day, I get that extra boost of encouragement I needed.

“If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials or pain, we’d never really know God because we’d never really need Him…Adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will.” Charles Stanley

What an amazing thought.  If I had an easy time of it, if everyday was smooth sailing, I wouldn’t need to depend on Christ for strength.  Our struggles remind us of our constant need for God’s help in our life.  I was humbled this week.  I was battling a cold, knee pain, work issues, along with watching some of my family members struggle with debilitating health issues.  I was reminded that I can’t do it on my own–I need my Savior to walk alongside me and pick me up when I can’t go any longer.

While doing physical therapy on my knee this week I learned a lot about muscles.  My muscles are weak and I need to do exercises to strengthen them (which is not a fun process!)  Our faith like a muscle.  If we don’t exercise it, it will become weak; we need to constantly exercise it and use it in order to make it stronger.  God places difficult circumstance in our life to strengthen our faith.  It might not be easy, but in the end if will be worth it.  Knowing God has plan has helped me through difficult circumstances.

One of my favorite songs “This is the Stuff” by Francesca Battistelli.  This song played through my head this week.  I think these lyrics sum up how we feel during those rough days.

This is the stuff that drives me crazy

This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I’m blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin

But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing

It might not be what I would choose

But this is the stuff You use

If you are having a rough time, know that God has plan for your life.  You are working your faith muscle, and you are going to have six-pack equivalent once you are done!  Praying God’s blessing over your life!

Filed Under: Christian Music, Learning Along the Way, My Life Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Jesus, Faith, and GPS

June 16, 2012 6 Comments

A few weeks ago, my mom and I were looking for a new thrift store.  We were having a hard time finding the store, so I decided to enter the address in my iPhone.  Finally, we were on our way.  The cool thing about my GPS is that it shows you when you go off course and it has a blinking pin right on your destination.  So, if you pay close attention, you will successfully get to your destination.  Easy enough right?  Even with the GPS, we had some trouble finding the store, but we finally got there (We are directionally challenged).

I started to think about my Christian walk.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if Jesus gave us the coordinates of our destinations in life?  Then I could just enter it into my phone and know exactly where I  was going.  The blinky pin would be on my destination and it would show me when I was going off course.  That would be so cool!  But, it doesn’t work that way.  If Jesus gave us a GPS then we wouldn’t need faith to trust Him because we would know our life plan exactly, moment by moment.  One thing is for sure, if we have a personal relationship with Jesus, we know our final destination—heaven.  God doesn’t give us details instructions of where we are going and what bumps in the road we might face, but He does give us His perfect peace and His guidance and direction.  We are able to come to Him in prayer and ask for His guidance and will for our life.

If you are anything like me, you are a major planner.  I plan out my day, my week, my month, my school year, etc.  I plan what I am going to wear, what I am going to eat for breakfast, and what I am going to do after work.  Let’s just say I am a control freak.  Being a control freak and follow the guidance of someone; how does that work?

I am reminded of something my mom said today.  We were walking around a park that we aren’t too familiar with.  I had been to the park recently, so I knew my way around the park better than my mom did.  I told her, “Follow me, I know where to go.”  She didn’t hear me, and she started walking another path.  Then I remind her that I knew the way.  She said,”I guess I am not very good at following.”

The same is true in my Christian walk.  I am not very good at following.  Jesus is telling me, “Come on, Sarah, I already have a path for you, just follow me.  I know the way.”  But, I tell Jesus, “Sure, I will follow you, but first I want to do a few things.  I need to take a detour.”  But, that is not following Jesus.  If I want to be a follower of Christ, I have to give up my plans, and follow Jesus.  His plans and timing are far better than mine.

I came to a conclusion today.  I am missing the point; I am missing the boat.  I say I am a follower of Christ, but I am actually following Him?  Am I trusting Him?   I have been struggling because I want to make my own plans.  I have been going a million miles an hour trying to find a Christian mate.  But, today Jesus nudged me and said, “Sarah, I got it under control, just follow me and everything will fall into place.”  I decided to stop worrying about finding a mate; if it’s God will, it will happen.  Follow Jesus.  He is smarter and a better planner than all of us combined!

Filed Under: Learning Along the Way Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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