Stuck in a Rut?

The story behind this photo is worth a million words. With my lack of brevity, I could expound on it with that many words, but I won’t. This is my beloved son, Larry Wallace, who assumed he was far enough from the lake as he seeded his pastures, but, unfortunately, he ran over an underground spring that literally pulled the tractor in and got stuck — a HUGE “stuck in a rut”.

Are you feeling “stuck in a rut” today? You’ve tried to get out of the rut, but it seems Gorilla glue has you stuck – paralyzed! Your motivation and determination is null and void. Perhaps you have given up pursuing your dreams and visions. You are held by an imaginary ball and chain of defeat.

On the other hand, you might be one, like Larry, who was NOT going to stay there. Notice the words on his shirt? WIN ALL DAY! He was relentless and determined to NOT stay there. With the help of a “village”, his tractor was pulled out of the rut. I was there, witnessed it all and celebrated the victory with him!

Maybe you are like Larry — undaunted. You rescue yourself as you refuse to stay in the rut. You aren’t satisfied with only your freedom. You also rescue others by building them up, encouraging them, and loving them out of the ruts of their lives.

Remember the Bible story of Joseph whose brothers threw him in a cistern aka hole and purposed to leave him there. The epic story is in Genesis 37, 39-50. If ever there was someone who was stuck in a place of defeat – it was Joseph. Perhaps you are there with him — stuck in a similar hole of poor health, financial pressure, family conflicts and more. Joseph and you are not alone.

Joseph could have been angry at God, but he stayed close to Him. He let the experience teach him important lessons about humility and trust in the Lord. By the time he and his brothers reconciled many years later, a wiser and holier Joseph declared to his brothers: “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20). Not only did Joseph grow closer to God, but his ordeal paved the way for his entire family to be saved from famine.

Maybe God is using our “ruts” to teach us perseverance and patience. Maybe He’ll use our witness of faith to soften someone else’s heart. Or maybe He has an even better solution waiting for us a little further down the road. Whatever the case, we can always trust that God’s plan is bigger than ours ever will be.

Joseph’s story shows us that God can bring good out of any situation. He helps us grow in love and grace even when it feels like a pit of despair. Feeling stuck is scary! I’ve experienced it. But if we believe that we are not alone in the hole, that God is there with us, that hole can lead us into a place of destiny and purpose like God planned for us all along.

Yes, I know ruts and holes. But I have also known my loving God Who never leaves us or forsakes us. Larry had friends who helped him get his tractor out of that rut. And we have our God Who has purposes for our ruts and holes. So brave up, mighty soldiers! You plus God are a majority that will “run against any troop and by your God, will leap over a wall.” Psalm 18:29