“Don’t Get Stuck!”

March is often our snowiest month of the Minnesota winter. This can be a snowy month because spring is close at hand. With spring, warmer moist air moves in to the upper Midwest. But with that air comes the potential for lots of snow. One of the fears we all have is driving in a snow storm and getting stuck. Especially if it’s in a out-of-the-way location where help may not be readily available. This is the main reason 4WD vehicles are so popular in Minnesota. Where a 2WD vehicle could be hopelessly stuck, a vehicle equipped with 4WD can easily track right through deep snow.
Thinking about the possibility of getting stuck brought my attention to a passage in the Old Testament. Genesis 11:31-32 reads “Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai, and his grandson Lot and left Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But they stopped instead at the village of Haran and settled there. Terah lived for 205 years and died while still at Haran.” (NLT) Abraham’s father Terah took his family on a journey to the Promised Land of Canaan. They left their home, their livelihoods, their comforts, all because God had revealed to them an awesome gift - the Promised Land. Along the way to Canaan, they stopped at Haran and got stuck. They settled there and Terah ended up dying Haran. Later we know Abraham made it to Canaan but what a sad ending for Terah!
God has called each of us to join Him on a journey to the Kingdom of God. He has equipped us with the Holy Spirit who gives us inner peace, joy, spiritual gifts and an abundant life. But sometimes we get stuck on the way. We settle for less than what God had in store for us. We will inevitably get stopped along the way in our journey but there is a difference between getting stopped and getting stuck. When we get stuck, we need to ask for God’s help in shifting gears and getting back on our journey. God didn’t call us to get stuck and die in Haran. He has called us to shift into 4WD and get back on track toward Canaan, the Promised Land. Are you stuck in your journey with God? Are you tempted to settle for less than God’s best for you? Did you set out for a Christ-like life but settle for one plagued with sin and guilt? Did you set out for a great marriage with God in the center but settle for just co-existing? Did you set out to devote your gifts and talents to serving God but settle for devotion to your career? Did you set out to impact your community and world for Jesus Christ but settle for just sitting in the pew (chairs in our case)? If you answered yes to any of these questions, don’t be like Terah. Go to God in prayer and ask Him to get you unstuck. The Holy Spirit is way more powerful than a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Allow the Spirit to get you back on track on your journey with God!