“Stuckness”
So often as I sit in my little barrel chair, I listen to the needs of individuals, kids, adults, couples, and hear a theme over and over. “I’m stuck.” “We’re stuck.” While any therapist would love to offer the “magic pill,” this dynamic of self/relationships is way too common and stubbornly rigid. It has been described as set in stone and would require heavy machinery to dislodge. While the merits of contemporary therapeutic interventions most truly have there place, I recall a mentor sharing with me a profound truth. A seasoned pastor and counselor, he said, “Chad, I must say, after thousands of sessions with couples I can say with confidence couples who pray together rarely present with the depth and toxicity of problems those who do not seek God jointly present with.” As of now, I see this axiom, if you will, making its truth known in the realm of my work. Your God is Too Small, wrote J.B. Phillips. A read you won’t forget by the way. The breadth of his grace extends way beyond our most taxing and monotonous problems. God does not want us to live in the monotony of “stuck” relationships, relationship with, sin, or any other system encumbering us to feeling trapped without reason. Remember, He is in the business of streaking into this world and changing the circumstances of his children. Timing I cannot speak to, his intention for you, I can!
I think if we human beings can ever figure out why and how we get “comfortable” in our stuckness (fear of the untried/unknown, determination to pound out our personally predetermined course while expecting results we’ve not seen after unending repeats, etc.), there will be an unprecedented shakeup in Heaven and on earth.