Are you stuck in a rut?

We can all probably say that at some point in our lives we have been stuck in a rut, where normality becomes like a long drawn out tedious day of events that turn into an endless spiral of repetition.
We all have jobs that need doing and things we have to attend to on a daily basis, but how many of us, if we are honest, feel like we are living inside a maze?

We head in one direction, turn right, then go further along and suddenly we hit a brick wall.  We carefully retrace our steps, turning left instead of right in a hope to find the exit.  This way seems to take us further than before, and we think we're almost out of the maze, until we spot another brick wall up ahead of us.

The maze is like a conundrum, a puzzle that needs solving; but with so many brick walls already in our way, we begin to wonder is there actually any escape?

Only from an aerial view can we look down on a maze and see the complexity of the route.  The exit is visible to us from a distance, from a height, but when we are right in the middle of it ourselves, the exit is unclear, hidden from sight.

It can feel like you will never escape the maze and you believe you will be stuck here for quite some time.  There is always a way out, a means of escaping the maze, the rut you are in.  A little patience is needed, along with some gentle persuasion and help.  Guidance from others is also sometimes essential, because quite often we can become comfortable in our rut and accept that we will not get out of it.  Comfort is the enemy of progress, we can never move forward if we're just staying in the same place.  For many it's hard to get out of this place, there is however a solution and many will choose to ignore it, even Christians because it is overwhelming asking for help, giving up our control, we often like to find solutions ourselves, we are of little faith and trust.  When Jesus was walking on the water he said to the disciples, 'Take courage! It is I! Don't be afraid.'  They'd seen him do all kinds of miraculous deeds but they were afraid in that moment because the sea was raging, there was a storm, they couldn't see clearly if it was really him or some trick of the wind, maybe an hallucination.  Faith is required and trust.  In that moment Jesus was not only standing on the water but the word.
'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.'  Psalm 119:105
Peter was walking on the word, but once he took his focus away from Jesus and became distracted by the wind he began to sink. Take as big or little steps as you need in your walk with God, trust his timing, dont look to the world or what you think you know, don't allow yourself to be stuck.

This rut... there will have been something that brought you into this place, examine your mind, are you pessimistic or optimistic?  Do you allow what others think of you to affect you?  Does work lead to stress?  Do you fantasize about running away?  Do you find yourself questioning why a lot of the time?
'Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.'  Romans 12:2


Take one step at a time, and don't allow yourself to be side-tracked with unnecessary things, distractions will come and it gets harder to stay focussed but if you set your mind on things above and not on earthly things, you will find greater freedom.  Follow the lead of others who have escaped their own ruts, and you too can break free of the maze you are in.  Allow God to break you out of this rut!