What To Do When You Feel Stuck

Have you ever felt stuck?

I have.

In fact, after writing most of The Courage to Move Forward, I let the manuscript sit on my computer for years.

Not weeks.

Not months.

Years.

I had written most of the book, but I wasn’t sure what to do next.

Part of me wondered if it would ever be finished.

Another part of me wondered if it should be finished.

Looking back now, I can see something I couldn’t see at the time.

I wasn’t stuck because God had forgotten me.

I wasn’t stuck because the dream was dead.

And I wasn’t stuck because the door was permanently closed.

I was in a season of preparation.

While I Was Waiting, God Was Working

While I was waiting, God was working.

He was opening doors that hadn’t existed before.

He was bringing new relationships into my life.

He was creating opportunities that simply weren’t there when I first finished the manuscript.

At the time, it felt like I was stuck.

Looking back, I can see that God was preparing the way.

The truth is, everyone feels stuck from time to time.

Maybe you’re feeling that way right now.

You have a dream, but you don’t know how to accomplish it.

You have a goal, but you can’t seem to make progress.

You have a problem, but you don’t know how to solve it.

You feel like you’re standing still while everyone else is moving forward.

If that’s where you are, let me encourage you with something I’ve learned over the years:

Feeling stuck doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing something wrong.

Sometimes being stuck is simply part of the journey.

Why We Get Stuck

Sometimes God is preparing you before He promotes you.

Sometimes He’s teaching you something you need to learn.

Sometimes He’s developing character before giving you greater responsibility.

And sometimes He’s arranging circumstances behind the scenes that you can’t yet see.

Over the years, I’ve discovered there are several reasons we get stuck.

Sometimes we’re stuck because it’s not time yet.

That was certainly true with my book.

What felt like delay was actually preparation.

Other times, we’re stuck because we need new wisdom.

There have been seasons when I couldn’t move forward because I didn’t yet know what I needed to know.

I needed a new skill.

A new perspective.

A better strategy.

A deeper understanding.

And once I learned it, things began moving again.

Other times, we’re stuck because we’re trying to do everything alone.

Recently, I was talking with someone who felt completely stuck in life.

As we talked, I asked a simple question:

“Who do you have speaking encouragement into your life?”

Their answer surprised me.

“Nobody.”

Suddenly, the problem became much clearer.

God never intended for us to navigate life alone.

We all need people who encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, and help us see what we can’t see on our own.

So What Should You Do When You Feel Stuck?

Let me offer a few practical suggestions.

1. Don’t Panic

This may sound simple, but it’s important.

When we panic, we often make poor decisions.

We quit too soon.

We force doors open that God never intended us to open.

We become discouraged and start believing things that simply aren’t true.

Take a breath.

Feeling stuck today doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck forever.

See?

You’re already feeling better.

2. Identify the Real Problem

Before you can move forward, you need to understand what’s actually holding you back.

So ask yourself.

Ask some trusted friends.

And most importantly, ask God some honest questions.

Is this a timing issue?

A fear issue?

A skill issue?

A relationship issue?

A faith issue?

You can’t solve a problem until you identify what the problem really is.

Sometimes what we think is the problem isn’t the problem at all.

3. Find the Next Step

One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to solve everything at once.

Don’t worry about the next ten steps.

Focus on the next one.

What is the next right thing you know you should do?

Make the phone call.

Send the email.

Have the conversation.

Read the book.

Ask for help.

Take the walk.

Write the first page.

Pray the prayer.

The next step may seem small, but small steps often create big momentum.

4. Trust God With the Outcome

One of the lessons I’ve had to learn repeatedly is that my responsibility is obedience.

The outcome belongs to God.

I can’t control every circumstance.

I can’t control every door.

I can’t control every result.

But I can take the next step God places in front of me.

Trust Him with the parts you can’t see.

5. Get Up Tomorrow and Do It Again

Most breakthroughs don’t happen in a single dramatic moment.

They happen through consistent faithfulness.

One step.

One day.

One decision.

One act of obedience.

Then another.

And another.

Eventually, what felt impossible begins to move.

You Don’t Have To Stay Stuck

If you’re feeling stuck today, let me encourage you:

Stuck is not the same thing as finished.

It’s not the same thing as forgotten.

It’s not the same thing as defeated.

Sometimes what feels like being stuck is actually preparation.

Sometimes God is teaching.

Sometimes He is protecting.

Sometimes He is positioning.

Sometimes He is simply waiting for the right moment.

Whatever the reason, don’t quit.

Keep praying.

Keep learning.

Keep trusting.

Keep taking the next step you know to take.

Because you don’t have to stay stuck.

And your story isn’t over.