Now six weeks into a new year, there are many of us who look back at our resolutions and realize … we already set them aside.
And it’s not because the goals were bad or our intentions weren’t real. They were. But life picked up at its usual pace, and suddenly, we’re wondering why change feels so hard to hang onto.
We start every year wanting a fresh start — healthier habits, clearer direction and maybe even a little renewed purpose. But normal routines return. Schedules fill up, responsibilities pile up, and that “fresh start” feeling fades into the background.
And then, a discouraging thought quietly shapes in our mind:
“Maybe this is my life. Maybe I will always feel stuck.”
What to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life
We all go through seasons where nothing seems to move—at least not in the direction we hoped.
Plans stall. Doors stay closed. Prayers feel unanswered. We are waiting for something — direction, healing, provision, opportunity — and nothing appears to change.
And in the middle of it all, peace in our life feels impossibly far away.
I’ve had seasons like that too. Times when I made plans that never went anywhere and prayed prayers that didn’t have answers the way I expected—or when I expected. I know the stuck feeling well.
But here is the part we often miss:
We think peace comes after everything works out.
But God offers peace right in the middle of the waiting.
When my husband was searching for a new job, we lived in that in-between place for months. Everything felt uncertain. We had dreams for the future, but no idea where we’d end up living, what church we’d call home, or what daily life would look like. It felt like our whole world was on pause. I wasn’t just waiting—I felt stuck.
During that time, we prayed for a job.
But what actually carried us through was this: we prayed for peace.
Paul says it this way:
Even when each interview passed with another “no,” God’s peace kept us going. So we kept praying.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
And now, looking back, I can see something I didn’t realize then:
God answered us before anything in our live actually changed.
For months nothing around us shifted. We still didn’t know where we would live. We still didn’t have clarity about the future. But slowly, the anxiety that had filled my thoughts began to quiet. The fear of “what if none of this works out?” started to lose its grip.
God was doing exactly what He promised.
He was guarding our hearts and minds.
And eventually—in His timing, not mine—He provided. The right job. The right community. The right church. A sense of purpose we didn’t even know we needed here in Topeka.
But honestly? The biggest gift wasn’t the outcome.
It was the peace God gave us while we were waiting
So when you feel stuck, bring it all to God. Tell Him what you want to change. Tell Him what worrying you. And then ask Him for something just as important: peace for today.
Waiting seasons are not wasted seasons.
Sometimes God is not delaying your life — He is steadying your heart.
His peace doesn’t depend on knowing the future.
It rests on knowing that He’s already there.
Journaling Prompts:
- What area of my life currently feels “stuck,” and how has it affected my peace?
- What worries or unanswered questions do I need to bring honestly before God today?
- Looking back, can I identify a season where God gave me peace before He gave me answers?
I'd love to hear what you think!