Getting Unstuck

“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness with be your shield and rampart.”— Psalm 91:2-4

I decided to sketch our local town heritage house on Sunday.

I have painted it a couple times in the summer, so decided to sketch it in the winter. The sky was a bright brilliant blue and the snow was fresh, and it was a perfect day for a sketch. As I saw it from the road, Christmas wreaths and garlands met my eyes, and it looked beautiful in the snow. I noticed the snow banks by the road were high, but the snow in the parking lot looked manageable.

“Just the job for four-wheel drive”, I thought. “I’ve got this.” That’s why they make SUV’s.

After pulling into the parking lot, I realized the snow was deeper than I thought (not so good), so I decided I’d circle the lot and go back out. As I neared the back of the lot, the snow had drifted more, and looked deeper, and a tight circle was not possible.

Okay, this was a job for BACKING out.

So I stopped, put the car in park, then put the car into reverse to back out. My tires got stuck and whirred in the snow. No matter if I put it into drive or reverse, the tires spun, hopelessly whining against some ice. I tried over and over, but to no avail.

I was stuck.

After cussing myself, my four-wheel drive, the unplowed parking lot, and life in general, I called my hubby, who came, shoveled me out, and we eventually got out of the lot! And, I did get that sketch too!

Sometimes in life we get stuck in a place we don’t want to be. It may be in a relationship, a job, a circumstance, a habit, a health issue, an attitude. It may be from choices we have made or due to no choice of our own. It may have ensnared us quickly, or crept up on us slowly. But when it happens, and if we try and try to move forward and just cannot seem to go anywhere, it can be totally frustrating and discouraging.

Luckily, we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who comes to us and can help us. We can call on Him at any time and He will hear our prayers. He may choose to relieve us immediately, or help us endure through the time we are stuck. But either way, He is there. Walking along side us with love and compassion, healing and grace. Where might you need Him in your life today?

Prayer–“Gracious Lord, you walk with me every step of the way, even in circumstances that have me stuck. I pray for your guidance and wisdom as I move forward with my journey. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”