Escaping the rut and reclaiming your life

Many people feel trapped and have tried everything but remain hopeless about the future. They expected that their actions would prevent disaster from happening, only to watch it happen before their eyes.

And the feeling of being stuck descends on them - in marriage, spiritual limbo, career, job, finances, business, relationship etc. There is a tendency to give up on seeking ways to improve their situation and choose to just sit and do nothing about it. If your car got stuck in mud, would you abandon it or call people to help you push it out?

A rut is a condition where we find ourselves in a fixed routine or pattern of action(s) that is difficult to break out of. It drains one of energy, enthusiasm and hope. It binds one to an ineffective lifestyle and eventually brings destruction.

Mahatma Gandhi said “The future depends on what you do today. To believe in something and not live it is dishonesty. Action expresses priorities.” American novelist Ernest Hemingway said, “Never confuse movement with action. You can be busy doing nothing.” It is important to be a self-starter - a person of action. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.” (James 2:17)

How do you get motivated to keep moving and get things done? First, it is through the pain (physical or emotional) that your situation brings. In the parable of the prodigal son, he took action only after he hit rock bottom and came to his senses. Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. As the old adage goes, ‘Desperate needs, desperate measures’.

Second, it is through the pressure of the consequences of your staying in the rut. For instance, you go to the doctor and she tells you to either quit smoking, lose weight and exercise or you will die. Or your boss tells you to improve on your performance and ratings or else you will be sacked.

The Bible records in 1st Kings 17:1-9: “Elijah said to Ahab, as the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years, except at my word. Then the word of the Lord came to him saying, get away from here and turn eastward and hide behind the Brook Cherith, which flows into Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.”

“The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and evening. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him saying, arise and go to Sidon and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (1st Kings 17:1-9)

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Third, it is through a change in the perspective or insight you hold. Saul, before he was converted to Apostle Paul, on his way to Damascus got a flash of new insight, inspiration and vision. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground. A voice told him to go to the city and he would be told what to do.

In order to break out of the rut, you need to: One, assume responsibility for your life by not blaming others or giving excuses for your predicament. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Two, believe you can change by changing your attitude and mindset from ‘I cannot to I can’. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind; that you may prove what is good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Three, set practical and achievable goals. “Then the Lord answered me, write the vision and make it plain on tablets; that he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

Four, do not wait for the ideal circumstances to make a move. “He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11: 4)

Five, stop worrying about what people will say concerning your actions. When blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by, he called out to him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many warned him to keep quite; but he called out even louder. And Jesus restored his sight.

Six, determine to take action right now - just do it! As we Kenyans say, “Kama si sasa, basi ni sasa hivi.” Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

Bishop Muriithi is the Founder and Overseer, House of Grace International Ministries