“Forward”

August 23, 2020 ()

Bible Text: Acts 14: 19-28 |

 
The statistics are startling.  According to a recent study, 69% of people feel trapped in the same ole life routine, adding that roughly only 3 out of 10 adults are excited about their lives.  People are feeling stuck, stagnant, stifled.  
 
Some are feeling stuck in their careers- feeling like they're too far along one path to make a change.  While others may feel stuck in their personal lives because the daily grind absorbs much of their time and energy.  So their relationships, self-care, and personal goals get lost in the shuffle of routines.
 
On top of that, we are living through a pandemic that has restricted many of our activities.  Therefore, the feeling of being stuck for some has intensified. And here's the thing with stuck feelings, because most of us have them, but how we respond to them is so important because very often some will just give in to the feelings and choose to settle and just exist.  While others, will not allow the feelings, experiences, disappointments, or difficulties deter them. 
 
So how do you fight through feeling stuck, and move forward?
 
Here in our text, we find the Apostle Paul and Barnabas having been hailed as gods in one moment, but now the next moment they are in the fight of their lives.  Luke writes that Paul is stoned by some of the same crowd of people who were cheering him on! And it is often very easy to feel defeated when those that were once with you are now against you.  It's one thing when those who once supported you aren't supportive anymore.  It's another thing when they are against you!
 
Yet we find that Paul does not allow that experience to keep him from moving forward.  Just like we cannot allow ourselves to remain in a stagnant stifled state when we truly need to move forward. When you're feeling stuck it necessary to exercise determination, organization, and consideration to help you move forward in life.