Stuck

Held captive by the mud, the tires continued to spin. The longer we tried to manuever the car, the more apparent it became. We were stuck.

The wedding celebration was 50 miles out into the country, so we used our GPS for directions. Knowing we were heading out in “the sticks”, we had no reason to question when “the little voice” instructed us to leave the paved highway for gravel backroads.

GPS can be amazing or maddening. What began as an easy, follow the voice road trip, soon had us stuck in a farmer’s field. We knew we had taken a wrong turn somewhere. If only the voice from the GPS would’ve said “recalculaing” when we made the first wrong turn, we could’ve prevented the whole mishap.

With no cell phone service, I suggested I get out and push. Bad idea. Once the farm fresh air wafted up my nostrils, I quickly pulled my foot back into the car. I was pretty sure that there was more than mud on that road!

My husband is a great driver, and God really does answer prayers, so between the two of them, we finally drove free from the mud. What probably took about thirty minutes, seemed like an eternity.

“I waited patiently for the Lord: he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2

A wave of relief and gratefulness swept over us as we finally felt some traction under the tires and slowly made our way out of the deep ruts of that country lane.

The last direction we heard before getting stuck wasto turn left on to Liberty street. We had a good laugh when we realized we were held captive on Liberty street!

Paul tells the Galatians that it is for “freedom that Christ has set us free”, and warns them not be yoked in slavery again. Slavery seems like such a harsh word. But the Bible is clear, sin can enslave us.

Obvious sin in the form of addictions come to mind; alcohol, drugs,food, pornography. But what about pride, gossip, unforgiveness, or envy?

We are called to be free; free to love and serve God by loving and serving those made in his image. Free to walk in forgiveness and victory over our flesh, not freedom to indulge our flesh.

It’s the reason Jesus came. He fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy when he read the scroll in the temple:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” Isaiah 61:1

Are you walking in the freedom the Lord provides for you? Or do you feel stuck?

What little voice is acting as your GPS? Friends, family, your boss? Are you trying to navigate your life by trying to control people and circumstances? Or are you using the Bible as your GPS (God’s Protective System) as your guide to avoid the mud and mire of this world?

We eventually made it to the wedding celebration. Although we missed much of the planned festivities, we made it in time to congratulate the happy couple, share a delicious meal with friends, and make a memory.

If you feel stuck, ask the Lord to show you why you may be spinning your wheels instead of experiencing the freedom He has for you. He is faithful. He really can lift you from the mud and mire and give you a new place to stand. You don’t have to live stuck.

Psalm 119:45 “I walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts.”

Let me know how I can be praying for you to experience freedom, especially if you find yourself stuck on Liberty Street!