After attending a wonderful event with some friends from our church, we walked to the parking lot to head back home.
To our surprise, our car was hemmed in by hundreds of other cars.
Our meeting had taken place at a campground in the area, and we’d been asked to park behind a group of buildings.
Evidently, everyone else had been asked to park there as well.
And, there was no way to move our car. We were completely surrounded – cars in front of us, behind us, to the left, and to the right. So, we got in our car and waited. There was nothing else we could do.
At first, we were irritated. It was late, and we needed to get home.
But, slowly, we realized we had an opportunity. While we sat and waited, we could enjoy some time together. For almost an hour, we talked, we laughed, and we enjoyed the time that we had while stuck in our car.
Eventually, the other drivers came and moved their cars. We watched them load up their cars and pull out of the parking lot. Eventually, we were able to exit the parking lot and head home.
However, those moments stuck in that vehicle were not wasted moments. Although they were unplanned and unwanted, they turned out to be sweet.
Sometimes, you and I feel stuck in life. We feel like we are hemmed in on every side—unable to move.
Usually, these moments are unplanned and unwanted.
- In a difficult relationship?
- Saddled with huge bills and debt?
- In a job, you don’t like?
- At a strange fork in the road?
- In a church, you don’t feel connected to?
- Waiting?
- Wondering what to do?
- Unable to move on or get out?
The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
And, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Prayer – Father, as You rejoice and sing over me, would You quiet and calm me with Your love. As I am feeling stuck, would You settle my heart, my emotions, and my mind today? I need Your quietness and Your touch today.
Lord, I need Your quietness and Your touch today. Click To Tweet
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Prayer – Lord, would you allow your peace that passes all understanding to guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus? I need Your peace today. I ask You to flood my heart and mind with Your peace.
Lord, I need Your peace today. I ask You to flood my heart and mind with Your peace. Click To Tweet
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Prayer – God, would You allow Your grace to be sufficient for me today? As I feel stuck in my life, would You allow Your power to be perfected in my weakness today? I am so weary of this situation. Would You fill me with much grace right now?
Father, I am so weary of this situation. Would You fill me with much grace right now? Click To Tweet
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24
Prayer – Lord, I’m running out of faith that my life is ever going to get unstuck. I feel weary in my waiting. Would You help my unbelief? I want to trust You. I want to believe You can rescue me. Help me to have more faith.
Father, I want to believe You can rescue me. Help me to have more faith. Click To Tweet
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Prayer – Father, I ask You to show me how this is all working for good in my life. Would You allow me to see how being stuck in this situation is positive, helpful, and part of Your plan? Would You teach me amazing lessons? God, would You allow me to see Your hand in this season? Would You encourage me while I wait?
Lord, would You allow me to see Your hand in this season? Click To Tweet
Whether in a parking lot filled with cars or in some circumstance in our lives, we all find ourselves wedged in at times.
When we get in these seasons, we must remember – God could change our situation at any time. If He does not, we will have to deal with the watching and the waiting. It can be one of the hardest things in the world!
It’s the Serenity Prayer—written by Reinhold Niebuhr—and used all around the world by people who feel stuck:
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
To change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
From my friend Kelly Balarie, here are “3 Encouraging Truths When You Feel Stuck.”
Also, from our blog, you might enjoy:
How to Make a Powerful Appeal – when you feel stuck
What Can You Do When Life is Confusing?
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Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about prayer.
