'GETTING UNSTUCK IN MY FUTURE'

Are you worried about your future? A poll I saw recently asked this question and 81 per cent of respondents answered, "Yes". In fact, one young person commented, "I have a future. " Unfortunately, worry, frustration and confusion are evoked whenever we start thinking about our future. And when we feel stuck in our present, it's really tempting to think that we are going to be stuck forever. We become hopeless, impatient and discouraged, but I want you to know that your present is not your future. God sees your future differently, and if you trust in His plan, He will help you get unstuck.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding ... ." Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT.

Sometimes we get stuck about the future because of:

1. Worry: We crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future.

2. Assumptions: We become disappointed about the future because we paint a picture and it doesn't turn out exactly like we expected.

3. Planning without prayer: "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year ..." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? ... What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that ..."." James 4:13-15 NLT.

4. Procrastinating: You may be delaying while waiting for perfect timing or because you are nervous and you think 'I'll do it someday', but someday is not a day of the week.

How then do we move forward in our lives?

1) Recognise

that I am stuck

The Bible teaches us two reasons why we are stuck in our lives and

consequently in our future: sin and circumstances.

Sin is when we choose our way instead of God's way. When there is sin in the present, there's going to be uncertainty in the future. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but

its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12 NKJV.

Or sometimes life's circumstances get us stuck. Unexpected situations arise and they are difficult for us to deal with. God never promised perfect circumstances, but that His grace would see us through it. "We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure ... . But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God ... ." 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT.

2) Remember God's

faithfulness in my past

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again ... ." Psalm 42:5-6 NLT.

What situation has God helped you get through? If He's done that for you in the past, He's going to do it in your future. He will never leave us, or forsake us and He has promised us life to the fullest if we will follow Him

"... He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations." Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT.

3) Refocus my mind on the hope of heaven

"Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth."

Colossians 3:2 NLT.

Life is a matter of perspective. You can either choose to look at your life from a short-term circumstance-based perspective, or you can take the opportunity to refocus and look at your life from an eternal perspective. There are times in life of extreme pain, of uncertainty, of loss, when we need to take a moment to refocus and remember the hope we have in Jesus - the hope of an eternity in Heaven. "... Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8.

4) Respond obediently

to God's direction

Giving God complete control is the key to getting unstuck. It means responding obediently to God's direction. "The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:12 NLT.

But if it is your circumstances that have made you stuck and not that you are being disobedient, then don't give up! We've all heard that the darkest night is just before the dawn, and you may be going through the last few moments of this hard time before you experience God's breakthrough in your life. "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 NLT.

5) Replace my thoughts with God's thoughts

"... Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think ... ." Romans 12:1-2 NLT.

When I see the future through my eyes, I see the here and now, but through God's eyes, I see the hope of Heaven. The Scripture instructs us to begin by giving complete control to God, allowing Him to transform the way we think; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

God wants to see you unstuck. He wants to see you moving forward, closer and closer to your full potential, but are you ready to give God

complete control?