What to Do When You are Stuck

Stuck In Between and the WIP Wednesday Link-Up

First, let me say, that y’all are amazing! Last week, we had 46 posts linked up! That’s 46 testimonies of the Lord moving and working in lives. Praise Him!! I’m so excited to see what He brings to the community this week!

Now, for my stuck in between. My goal is to be totally honest with you guys always. This is especially true on Wednesdays when we share what the Lord is doing in our lives. I don’t want to ever get to the point where I feel like I have to conjure up some profound thought the Lord is teaching me just to have something to put here on Wednesday. With that in mind, I’m going to be honest about where I am this week.

I’m stuck in between.

I just finished up the Bible study on 1 Peter with the community over at Allume. Bible Study Fellowship doesn’t start for over another month. I’ve joined up with the ladies at She Reads Truth and their reading plan on Prayer, but I am totally unmotivated. I feel stuck. I’ve finished one long(ish) study and am waiting to begin another. When the alarm goes off in the morning, I am way more likely these days to turn it off and roll over rather than get up and spend time with the Lord.

I’m also tired. So. Very. Tired. I’ve got to get more disciplined about going to be on time. (not that they Olympics are helping with that!)

Along with my current feelings comes the strong temptation for the “good girl” in me to feel guilty. I’m not doing what I’m “supposed” to do. I’m falling short. I’m disappointing God.

So I’m purposefully reminding myself of two things today:

God has not changed. He has not gone anywhere. He is still with me. He still loves me just as much as ever. Nothing I do or fail to do will ever change that. (Romans 8:37-39)
My identity has not changed. I am still God’s child–chosen, redeemed, justified, holy, and so much more. Nothing I do or fail to do will ever change that. (1 John 3:1, Ephesians 1:3-6)

The key point: Nothing I do OR fail to do will ever change who God is or my identity in Him. <—Click to tweet!

What do you remind yourself of during the “in between” times? Let’s chat in the comments!

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It’s time for the WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday Link-Up!

This week’s featured post: Mindy titled her post Nutella and banana crepes. Who can resist clicking on that?! I like this post because she shares about the simple moments of enjoying life with someone you love. I enjoyed peeking in on the beauty of the relationship God has given her with her daughter.

What is God doing in your life? Link up a post below or let’s chat in the comments! Please make sure you link back to newlifesteward.com! This helps promote the community and allows everyone’s posts to be shared. If you aren’t sure how to do that, e-mail me! I’ll be glad to help!

Link Up Rules:

Please link to the post’s permalink so that it will go directly to the post you want us to read.
In the “Name” space, put the title of your post.
Limit 3 Links per week.
Please take time to visit the blogger before you and encourage them in their comments.
Use Hashtag #WIPwed when you tweet about your post!
One Post will be featured each week from the previous week’s Linky!
Please link back to newlifesteward.com so your readers know where to find us! (Grab the button on the sidebar!)

If you are reading this via e-mail or Reader, click over to participate!

This post is linked with thanks to:

Works for Me Wednesday
iFellowship
Women in the Word Wednesday
Living Well Wednesday
Unwrapping His Promises
God Bumps and God-Incidences
Whatever Wednesday

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Christina@toshowthemjesus.com

I know just what you mean. When I get stuck, I have to remind myself that there is nothing I could do to make God love me any less, and nothing I can do to make Him love me more. And I pray for grace. Thanks for being honest here. Blessings!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I’m so thankful for those truths!!
Misty Leask

I too find myself “stuck”, especially on Wednesdays for some reason. I think I am understanding why I see many bloggers hosting “Wordless Wednesdays”. I feel like that might be something I need to do! I am ready for life to slow down, fall does that for some reason. As sad as I am to see summer leaving, I know fall brings a slower pace of life and schedule. Love and prayers dear friend! (((hugs)))
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I’m with you. Summer is supposed to be a break and then we busy it up! I’m looking forward to a consistent routine again!
Pingback: A Dream Come True | His Pen On My Heart
http://susanstilwell.com/ Susan Rinehart Stilwell

I hear you, Mary Beth. Wish I had something profound to offer, but you just have to press on. Stay in the Word and stay on your face in prayer. Listen to some praise music and do a happy dance. You’ll pass the in-between before long
Happy Wednesday!!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I love the happy dance suggestion! Nice change of pace!
TereasaM

Mary Beth, you are a precious soul and I appreciate your candidacy. Sometimes, I find that I have become so consumed with writing (giving) that I fail to fill-up, even when I am in the middle of Bible study. I just have to stop and be quiet, allowing his word to sink deep. I understand this time you are going through and know there are many of us who experience it. Bless you.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Funny you say that. I read this morning about letting our words be few before the Lord, so I just sat in my closet and focused on Jesus for awhile. No profound thoughts just sang a verse over and over in my head and let it sink in!
http://intentionalbygrace.com/ Nikki

Oh I am so there! I have a few blogs and feel uninspired and unmotivated. Yet I can find comfort in knowing I am still comfy in the arms of our King! Thank you for sharing your heart! I just found you and will be returning
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Welcome! Glad to have you!
http://simplystriving.wordpress.com/ Nikki

Oh, girl…wish you lived next door. I’d come over and would bring muffins. And I’d tell you everything you already know. It’s evident in your post. And we’d nod in agreement and hug it out…
Hugs to you, friend. As you continue to seek. Love to you as you continue to believe. He is good. All the time.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  You and me both! I would love to share a muffin with you and hug it out!
  
  All the time, he is good!
http://www.gettingdownwithjesus.com/ dukeslee

Hanging on to these truths with you. The deep, deep love of Jesus astounds me.
http://www.newequus.wordpress.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

MB, thanks for putting into words what has been plaguing me for the last 2.5 weeks! I’m tired and I’m stuck and I’m tired of feeling tired and stuck! LOL What I’m doing is just plowing through and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. There will probably be a point in time where I just drop some of the “baggage” that I’m carrying and have to gracefully decline some of the commitments that I have made because I would feel “guilty” for saying no. I’m only one person and I only have so much time.

On another note…THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for making me your featured blogger this week! Who knew! LOL

Big hugs to you and praying we both get out of this rut!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I’ve had to do that in recent weeks too! Gracefully decline. I hope they took it that way. I know others probably think I’m lazy–I don’t work full time and just have one kiddo, but I really don’t want to overload myself and not do anything well. I want to fully commit to what I do.
  
  You are so very welcome. I really enjoyed the peek inside your relationship with your daughter.
http://godspotting.net Sheila Seiler Lagrand

I’m tired and stuck too. Really tired. And really stuck. Maybe it’s seasonal?

I turn to the classic verses in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. There really is a time for everything. Even stuckedness.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I love that. Stuckedness.
JosephPote

I love your statements toward the end of this post!
Focusing more on who I am, in Christ, and less on what I’m doing, helps get me thru the in-between stages…and emerge refreshed and motivated…
Hey, I read a book, recently, that you might enjoy. I’m going thru it again, now, with my Sunday School Class…and some of the truths gleaned during class prep’ are making their way into my blog posts. It’s a pretty short read, if you want to check it out while awaiting your next long study.
Here is a post from a couple of weeks ago, where I posted a book review on it:http://josephjpote.com/2012/07/jesus-never-said/
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Just popped over the read your review! Thanks for the recommendation!
http://ourgoodfamily.org/ Aurie Good

I love reading all the blogs that link up! Perhaps one week I’ll remember to link up too!! Right now I’m going through all the *praise* verses found in the Bible. I log onto Biblegateway.com and then read the passages in different translations.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Oh wow! I bet that is a long term endeavor but fruitful nonetheless!
Laurie Collett

Praise God that we are His children & joint heirs with Christ! Thanks for the great post & for hosting the linkup, & God bless!
Laurie

http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
Karina

Thanks for stopping by Will definitely link-up with you this week. I found that book Grace For the Good Girl encouraging and challenging. I want to spur you on to spend time with the Lord this week. Maybe it won’t be early in the morning, but soak in His Word and pray!

http://graceforthat.blogspot.com
Ro elliott

I use to focus more on the duty of things…but over time…God won me into a beautiful Love relationship…the more I fall in love…the more natural my time with Him grows…it is His love that draws us to want to be with Him…blessings to you~
http://www.morethanoptimism.com/ Liz

I feel as though I get “stuck” a lot more often than I should. Such great truth at the end of your post – thank you for the reminder!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  I’m learning to just let go of those “shoulds”. God’s grace covers it all. Relax and enjoy His presence. When it doesn’t go just right…just keep going.
http://twitter.com/JenniMullinix Jenni Mullinix

Oh, I can so relate Mary Beth! Your posts are always such an encouragement. Thank you.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Thank YOU! I couldn’t keep going without the encouragement I get from folks like you. I’m the type that needs positive feedback or I struggle! Thanks for letting God use you!
http://www.simplyhelpinghim.com/ SimplyHelpingHim

Thank you for linking up this week girly
Alicia Bruxvoort

I’m in between now, too- just wrapped up an amazing study by Jen Hatmaker and am waiting to see where God leads next. When I find myself in between I often just sit in the Psalms- seems David understood those in between times, too.
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Which study did you do with Jen? I’ve heard lots about Seven, but thats the only one. I’m curious to hear what you read and thought.
http://hissongtomeshalom.blogspot.in/ Mandy

54 links! Wahoo, way to go, girl! Regarding your post: I think you hit the nail on the head about our identity in Christ–severing the ties between performance and worth. For several months now (a good 6) I have been wrestling with paring things down in my life. I really feel God has asked me to scale things back to my family, my writing, and a few good friends…and that is plenty! I have realized that I am tempted to take on so many GOOD things, and I’ve had to really discern which good things are the ones God is asking me to take on (even within writing). Otherwise, I burn out quickly. I have no idea if any of that is relevant to your particular situation. I see a lot of myself in your struggles, and I just want to encourage you: what you might see as slacking could be God’s way of urging to recharge for new adventures to come. Abundant joy and blessings to you!
- http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth
  
  Thanks for your encouragement! That is so relevant to my situation. I’ve definitely been going through a season of paring things down to the Good things God has called me to rather than just all the good things that come along. It’s hard to do that. I hate saying no, and I’m also afraid of missing out on something!