How to Get Unstuck
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
We all reach points where it's hard to remember why we started, difficult to track the way forward, and easy to forget the promises of God. This article walks you through how to get unstuck in a way that I personally use. As I'm writing this, I feel stuck (again) and so I thought let's turn my usual journaling session and breaking out of stuckness into a blog post for a change. This is how to get unstuck, be filled with new motivation, and refresh your perspective on living for God's Kingdom today.
May you find space here to pause, reflect, and abide.
At the end of this article is a free printable workbook to prayerfully dive deeper.
Getting UNSTUCK 101
For the past few years, I've been dividing my life into 4 quadrants. In this article, I'm going to show you how getting clarity over each of these four areas of life helps me get unstuck every time.
Vine Creative Studio holds a collection of what I like to call 'encounter tools', resources connecting hearts with Jesus. You're welcome to try one out with my free Workbook on Living as a Wholehearted Follower or Coloring page on the Fishes & Loaves Miracle.
We don't allow God to use us to our full potential when we claim that we feel stuck. Our stuckness is often a selfish excuse for surrendering to Him more fully & inviting His healing touch into every area of our lives - yes, even the very ones that feel stuck.
Understanding stuckness
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to get unstuck, it's important for us to take a look at this idea of feeling stuck. If you think you feel stuck, you might feel like:
it's hard to see your next steps clearly
it's difficult to do normal tasks (your normal routine, even breathing feels like effort)
it's tempting to isolate and pull away from others
Luckily for us, this is not a new feeling or an emotion that our God does not understand. The Bible is full of examples when people - just like you and me - felt stuck and how they got out of it.
Bible verses on how to get unstuck with journaling prompts:
Psalm 40:1-3 "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." Consider what it might look like for God to pick you up out of this and set you on solid footing?
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." What might it look like to rest in Jesus in this season of life?
If this is already helping you, consider going deeper with the full guide I wrote for you:
Abiding and Lifestyle
This is, in my opinion, the most important area of life. It is about abiding (your relationship with God) and how you live. Lifestyle might sound leisurely, but it is about the little joys that make life worth living.
Example:
Here's my processing today to get out of my own stuckness:
My main purpose is to be a disciple of Jesus, everything else is secondary.
What can I do today that can infuse life with joy? (light a candle, pick a flower, cook slowly)
I want to be someone whose thoughts are fixed on God's ways and who lives a beautiful, intentional life.
Health, Rest, and Body
It's impossible to pour from an empty cup. Your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit and how you look after it matters. Don't disembody your faith - consider Jesus who walked with us as a human being in a body.
Example:
Here's my processing today to get out of my own stuckness:
I've been feeling a bit down: tired, craving movement and energy.
I can drink my immune booster again & go for a walk after work tonight.
I want to be healthy, well-rested, and comfortable in my own skin so that I don't use that as an excuse for serving other people, joining in on the fun, or doing whatever God asks of me.
Family and Relationships
Life is not about yourself (despite what the world tells us). Your social circle is of the utmost importance and will have a major impact on how you feel. Seeking support and companionship can lift the heaviness.
Example:
Here's my processing today to get out of my own stuckness:
How can I serve and support my husband today instead of only looking at my own stuckness? (I can hold space for him to just be)
We're seeing family and friends on Saturday for a birthday. It's helpful to remember I'm not disconnected or alone.
We're starting the adoption process soon - yay - How can I prepare my heart for becoming a mother? (I can pray about it or start slowly setting up the baby's room)
I want to be friendly, open, and honest with my close family. I want our marriage to shine God's light and offer a safe space to land after a hard day.
Work, Dreams, and Finances
These three common stressors deserve our intentional attention. Spending some time thinking about these things - and not just reacting on autopilot. Remind yourself of your deep hidden dreams that are collecting dust.
Example:
Here's my processing today to get out of my own stuckness:
Oh, I forgot I need to update the budget spreadsheet (Made a note now)
Posting this blog post works on my dreams & I'm diving into working on writing and editing contracts after completing this. Work is a bit stressful right now, it's ok to admit that and take it one task at a time.
I want to learn what is "enough", I want to be faithful steward of both my finances and my drams (calling). I want to glorify God in all I do, even if that looks different from what the world might expect.
Reassess: How do you feel now?
In the end, when you've processed through all four areas, it's a good idea to zoom out and ask yourself: How do I feel about the stuckness now? Does the feeling still exist? Is it bigger or smaller now?
I like to identify 2-3 actionable items from my writing points to pay special attention to in the coming days. It can feel overwhelming to try to do it all at once, so just take it slowly and prayerfully... I want to take a moment to remind you of the Wholehearted Contemplative Guide I wrote that takes you much deeper into each of these areas of life and introduces the true habit of journaling with these 4 points in mind:
Prayer
God, You are exalted HIGH above my emotions. No feeling of stuckness can compare to Your greatness. Help me to seek Your face in every area that feels hard right now. May I always continue to abide in the Vine, Amen.
Your Invitation to Go Deeper
Go even deeper with this idea by using the free workbook I made for you on this topic:
'Wholehearted' takes you through 4 main areas of life, prayerfully identifying ways to live in further surrender to the Lord. Now it's your turn to get unstuck and turn your pain into purpose:
P.S. If you enjoyed this article and would like to stay in touch, I want to invite you to join my newsletter by leaving your email below.
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