Last week, I was in stop-and-go traffic on an interstate highway. This highway is notorious for traffic backups and sitting in non-moving lines. It seems as if there is always a traffic accident of some form, or long lines at exit ramps that back up onto the highway.
Sometimes, life is like the stops and starts of driving in heavy traffic. We move along at a steady clip only to top a hill and encounter a parking lot of highway traffic. No matter how carefully you plan and estimate travel time, something throws a monkey wrench into the process and you find yourself at a standstill.
Following are reflections on the stops and starts of forward motion:
What halts forward motion?
At times, moving forward in life seems impossible. Perhaps your situation is overwhelming. You feel lost and unmotivated. The inability to move ahead is often hampered by the following:
Fear
One of the greatest deterrents to forward motion is fear. Fear takes many forms: fear of outcomes, fear of insufficiency, fear of pain, fear of lack of knowledge or ability, fear of criticism, fear of failure. Fear of any kind is like a giant stop sign to moving ahead. Fight fear with faith in Creator God, who provides what you need to overcome fear.
Uncertainty
Many times, uncertainty stops us in our tracks. A host of scary what-ifs come to mind, making us unsure of decisions and next steps. Uncertainty says wait: courage says trust and move forward.
Anger
Does anger really stop forward motion? Absolutely! Anger keeps us spinning with rehearsing unsaid words and deeds. Anger saps the energy that could be better used on positive pursuits. Anger breeds resentment and hampers forgiveness. Anger accomplishes nothing, but hinders much.
Looking Back
It’s hard to move forward when your focus is backwards. Reruns of past failures, or the hurtful words of others, paralyze you into inaction. A backward-looking mentality deters a vision for the future. So stop looking back and get excited about what lies ahead.
What reignites forward motion?
Forgiveness
Forgiving is a central tenet of faith, yet forgiveness is something most of us find extremely difficult. We want our offenders to suffer for what they’ve done to us and think forgiving them alleviates that suffering. However, unforgiveness is like a ball and chain that pulls us back a few steps for every one step we take. Failing to forgive hurts us more than it hurts the person we refuse to forgive. Unforgiveness keeps us focused on the past instead of moving ahead.
Change of Mindset
Sometimes, we fall into a pattern of seeing all that is negative and fail to see positives. I get it. Any time you’ve endured a long season of frustration, hardship, or grief, the natural tendency is to think nothing better is down the road. But with intentionality, you can change your mindset. Begin to look for positives in your life. Praise God for all He has done for you in the past, is blessing you with now, and will do for you in the future.
Renewed Vision
Has your vision become cloudy during a time of difficulty and inactivity? Have you lost perspective? In order to move forward, gain a renewed vision for possibilities. What would life look like if you had the courage to trust God and move forward? You’ll never know unless you clean your lenses and catch a vision of the future.
Steps Forward
You can’t move ahead while you’re standing still. When you’ve been mired in a place of halted forward motion, ultimately you reach a point when you must decide to move ahead and actually take the next step. The longer you delay, the harder it will be to ignite forward motion. If renewed forward motion seems too hard, ask God to help you, to give you the courage to take that one small step ahead, followed by many more thereafter. And don’t forget to thank Him for His guidance and encouragement.
“I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress” (Psalm 32:8 LB).
“Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above” (Philippians 3:13-14 NCV).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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