Many of us have experienced a bogged-down state before where we continually felt tired from life entirely. So tired, in fact, that things we normally do feel like chores on a to-do list. Life felt pointless because of the many worries in our hearts and on our minds, and life felt more like a job than an experience. This is a state I and many alike have suffered through for long periods of time, leaving us continually searching all over for any quick fix or solution other than God. However, (John 16:33 NLT) motivates us all to have hope in Jesus, and to receive our peace from him, because He’s overcome any and everything we may endure in this world.

So I prayed. But when I prayed to God nothing at that moment changed instantaneously like I had hoped it would have. Day in and day out, I recited the same prayer and hoped for a change in my circumstances. But nothing changed. If anything, I felt my awareness of my circumstances grow. In this season I grew weary as many of us have during seasons of waiting and hoping for better days and beautiful meadows. I and many alike may find it hard to say God is a good God easily at times when our minds are chained down by our unchanged circumstances, and when we or our situations just don’t feel good at all. We tend to find it hard to continue to seek God, and our disbelief coupled with our tiresome spirits ponder will He or can He? So, we slow down and sometimes leave Him spiritually and in our hearts altogether. But someone close to me said something to me recently:

“God can’t move a parked car.”

During my bogged-down state I didn’t believe prayer could help me, and why would I? Every day seemed like the last, and my circumstances didn’t seem to change into those hopeful sentences I kept repeating to God in the moments I did pray. When we continually see our efforts bearing no fruit day in and day out, with our unchanging circumstances, we can lose hope, become complacent, and lose faith in God altogether. But (Hebrews 11:1 KJV) reminds us differently, to not look to our current situations, but to things hoped for. Yet, this is something that still may be difficult for many of us to exercise our faith in. It was for me, due to a specific thing in my life not changing. It was so bad that I pondered if God can’t change it, how can I serve Him? In my spiritual life, I became that parked car, I stopped meeting God. I believe many of us have at one time or another. So the issue is what do we do? What can God do? And with what?

I recently read the book of Job which detailed all the things Job went through from his emotions, thoughts, and ailments. One of the most noteworthy things a scholar mentioned was:

 “The way to live through calamities is not just to keep a stiff upper lip but to bow reverently before God and his sovereign goodness.”

This statement changed me, my perspective, and my heart’s posture. I realized that I have to believe that some things we endure or have to deal with can’t be fixed by just earthly tools and wisdom, but by prayer (Matthew 17:20-21 NKJV) and one’s faith (Luke 8:43-48).

I remember this early morning clearly. I went to God in prayer desperately just saying I’m done, I’ve exercised all my other options, and I have nothing to give but myself and the situation. And after this prayer, I felt recharged for once unlike the many months and attempts prior. I felt different, but my circumstances weren’t. I still had the same worries and issues in my life, but I had some essence of peace within me. I finally understood that living water (John 7:37-39) Jesus always mentioned. I got that recharge I so desperately was longing for.

I honestly can’t tell you a play-by-play of what I did differently so you too can have a tutorial for your situation or circumstance. But the constant theme I see in my situation and what I continually have to do is seek God, because how can we persevere if we are apart from Him? (Habakkuk 3:17-19 GNB UK). Many times our flesh and minds can’t see what God sees or is doing in good or bad situations we encounter. But I bet at the end of our trials we’ll feel like Job in whatever the results are (Job 42:5 NLT). Not due to God changing our circumstances every time, but maybe changing the posture of our hearts and perspectives to strengthen us to endure until the end.

Scripture Reading: Job 42:5; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Matthew 17:20-21; John 7:37-39 & 16:33; Luke 8:43-48 and Hebrews 11:1