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It was a cold winter day. It was raining but then the rain turned to ice and then the ice turned to snow. I was with my best friend and we were in the process of moving some of her furniture from her hometown in Missouri back to Nashville. The U-haul was empty – but not for long. We were only going to stop for a minute to visit an old friend of hers. But in just a few minutes the driveway turned into a sheet of ice. It didn't take long for us realize it would be almost impossible to get out of the driveway. We were stuck. We tried pushing, pulling, pouring out cat liter and sand under the tires, using the floor mats, going forwarding, putting it in reverse. Nothing worked. There was no way around it… we were stuck.

Stuck is a frustrating situation to be in. At first you do everything you can think of to get unstuck. And when all else fails, you start questioning yourself… why did you do whatever it is you did that landed yourself in such mess. Not that it really matters now, because you're stuck and there's not much you can do but wait. And wait… and wait some more. Until things change or someone comes along and changes the situation.

Trials and difficult circumstances are difficult to bear and one comfort that many have come to share with friends when facing trouble is the saying: "This too shall pass." I've heard this saying more times than I care to recall when in the midst of a difficult situation. In fact, I've even been guilt of saying it myself. (Oh how I hate to admit that.) And as much as I hate to admit it… it does ring true.

Sadly, many people believe this saying is in the Bible. It's not. However, it may have roots in some of the Bible's teachings. In Romans 5 we are reminded that suffering produces hope for the Kingdom of God; if we simply take heart in the temporary end of a given earthly trial, we are finding comfort in the wrong thing. Really, we should be focusing on the promise of what awaits us who believe.

Before I knew Christ I stuck in sin. I was spiritually dead. I was separated from God. I needed a way to get unstuck. I tried everything in my power to help myself. But on my own, I was powerless to do anything about my situation. I needed something… better yet; I needed someone to get me unstuck. Not just anyone… the only one who could rescue me from sin.

Jesus Christ.

Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the quickening of our souls. Now through Christ we, who were once dead in are sins now have our slates wiped clean. Christ made provision for us by taking away the guilt of sin, and breaking the power and dominion of it. By virtue of our union to Him, and in conformity to Him we have the remission of sin. When He was nailed to the cross, the curse against us - our arrest warrant - was also nailed to the cross. Judgment is no longer held against us.

In His death and resurrection, we are no longer stuck in sin.

I praise God that He loves us too much to leave us stuck where we are – He's given us a way to get unstuck – the gift of Jesus Christ – His life, His death and His resurrection.

I pray today if you've never accepted this gift you'll consider it. Or if you received it once before but have drifted away and have found yourself once again stuck in sin… you'll open your heart and recommit your life to Him today. He loves you too much to leave you where you are.

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Origin Of Nations