Stuck. No progress. Same-old, same-old. That feeling of being restrained and restricted to one place. We have all experienced this feeling. It can be tempting to keep chugging along in the same routine, no questions asked. However life is too short to struggle through a mundane existence, all shrouded in grey. Let’s stop asking: “Why do I feel stuck?” and get to work on the solution!
Why Do I Feel Stuck?
Sadly, I was in such a position for the majority of last year (2017). However I received a powerful Holy Ghost “download” last November while I was at work. The message moved me so deeply that I was in tears. Even as I wrote this message, I was in tears. At the time, I shared this post on my personal Facebook page. However the Holy Spirit convicted me to share His messages on a wider scale – which is the main reason for this blog. Let me share this particular message with you.
The Children of Israel in Egypt
The Lord led me back to the story of the children of Israel in Egypt. We all know the story of their enslavement by the Egyptians. We also know that God then used Moses to deliver His people. Then there were ten catastrophic plagues and the eventual destruction of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. We all know the story.
However Jesus made me consider the history of how Israel became enslaved. Abraham, the original patriarch stepped out in faith that he would give birth to innumerable descendants who would have their own Promised Land.1 Then Abraham had Isaac, and Isaac had Jacob, (who God renamed Israel). Israel gave birth to twelve sons, who became the twelve tribes of Israel. All these generations were walking in faith and divine guidance towards the Promised Land.
Then the famine came and God in His infinite wisdom sent Joseph ahead to Egypt to secure the posterity of Abraham. I know that Jesus, I know! But then the Holy Spirit asked me how long the famine was. We know that famine lasted for seven years. Why didn’t the twelve tribes of Israel leave Egypt after the famine ended and carry on towards their Promised Land? Well, they got comfortable. Joseph was Prime Minister and the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time was treating them well and gave them their own lands in Egypt. But these Egyptian lands were not in the Promised Land. Even before Joseph died, he made Israel swear to take his bones with them when they left Egypt.2 Joseph (the one God used to deliver them from famine) knew that Egypt was not the final destination of Israel!
Comfort Leads to the “Feel-Stuck” Phenomenon
Israel still remained in Egypt after Joseph died. Why is Israel still in Egypt? Why would a people slated to establish their own kingdom remain in another country? They stayed until the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time died and a new Pharaoh came to power who then enslaved them.3 Israel was in Egypt for over 400 years and they were in slavery for the greater portion of it!4
Then after the freedom from physical slavery, the children of Israel wasted away again in the wilderness for 40 years. They were still spiritually and mentally tainted from their time in Egypt. Israel had an evil addiction, as they lusted after the false gods and pleasures of Egypt. Unfortunately, this meant that they could not possess their divinely appointed possessions!5 It was a totally new Israel, a new generation free from their parents’ physical, spiritual and mental Egyptian slavery that inherited the Promised Land!6
Never Make a Temporary Refuge a Permanent Place of Rest
The Holy Spirit prompted me that Egypt was meant to be a temporary pit stop for Israel on the way to the Promised Land. It was meant to be a temporary place of refuge from the famine of Joseph’s time. It was never meant to become the home of Israel. God wanted His people in the Promised Land! The Israelites took a temporary refuge as a permanent place of rest. The result?They became physically enslaved for over 400 years, and then roamed spiritually and mentally enslaved for another 40 years in the wilderness! Israel was out of whack, totally out of place because they decided to make a temporary refuge, a permanent resting place!
Then the Holy Spirit showed me myself. What the Holy Spirit showed me will be a testimony for a later date when He releases me to give that testimony. I bawled 7 so hard at work! When I got home, I bawled some more. Then as I wrote the original version of this message, I bawled again! I cried out to God:
“I repent Jesus! Forgive me Lord! I will no longer try to make a temporary refuge, a permanent resting place! Forgive me for praying wrongly and outside of Your will! I will let go in faith and allow You to lead me in Your divinely appointed path for my life! I receive Your grace and strength to go forth and possess my possessions in Jesus’ name!”
Then I took the steps to leave my personal Egypt. I purged myself and started moving towards my own Promised Land. Hallelujah!
Self-Examination
What are you holding on to? Who are you holding on to? Which place are you refusing to leave? You know, we always know when Jesus is telling us to leave a person, a place or a thing. But what do we do? We try to rationalize our decision to stay in Egypt. We make many excuses as to why we are living like Egyptians and not according to our God-appointed DNA as Israelites!
My family and friends, as this message convicted me; I pray that it will convict you as well. My conviction may not be the same as yours; my “Egypt” may not be the same as your “Egypt”. However, the nature of “Egypt” will always remain the same. Egypt is a place of initial enjoyment and eventual enslavement. It may not be physical enslavement, but it is a surely a place of spiritual and mental enslavement. Egypt will cause you to miss your Promised Land. This Egypt will make you not possess your divine inheritance! Leave Egypt! Be obedient! Leave! Do not sit down there! Start to pack your stuff and make preparations to leave Egypt! Your divine destination is NOT Egypt! Leave! You will die there never seeing your Promised Land, and never becoming who God created you to be! Do not let Egypt enslave you! Run out from there! Leave! Don’t wait! Leave that place!
Feel Stuck? Change is Required!
I am finished doing what I was led by God to do. You need to stop asking yourself: “Why do I feel stuck?” and take definite actions. It is up to each of us to decide: Egypt or the Promised Land? I pray that Jesus Christ will grant us all His grace and strength to make the right decision – even when it makes no sense to our own human reasoning. The ways of God are beyond any man’s reasoning ability. The godly decisions are often the hardest to make and they always require us to move in complete faith. However I believe that these decisions are worth it in the end: when we are finally in possession of our divinely appointed inheritance. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to be with us all. Amen.
Blessings, peace and wisdom upon you,
Sophia.
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