Have you ever experienced days or weeks where everything seems to be stuck?  You know the feeling; it’s like no matter how hard you try to keep going, it feels like you’re hitting a wall over and over again?  Maybe it’s a project at work that, no matter how hard you try, it just isn’t working out, or perhaps a relationship you hoped would be significant is moving at a snail’s pace; you thought it was the one, but it not going anywhere. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things are not working out anywhere near the way you imagined. You feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and occasionally even lose your sense of perspective.   

We’ve all been there, feeling like we’re being blocked somehow, and this can be a very oppressive sensation. It can seem as though everything in our environment is conspiring to hold us back from what we truly desire. Doubt creeps in and the frustration starts to build. “Why is this so hard? Why can’t things just flow the way I want them to?” you ask, not knowing how to push the “GO” button in your life.

If ever there was a time to pause, reflect, and get brutally honest, feeling stuck is it. Taking the time for deep reflection is a very important opportunity, because often blockers are not about external opposition from the world. Sometimes they are internal; things going on in our souls that we’ve yet to confront. God has designed life in such a way that when we step too far outside our purpose in His Will and plan for us, it can feel like wading through quicksand. Hardly anything cooperates with us when we’re out of alignment with God’s Will and blessings.

Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) says: “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” This verse is a powerful truth, and it reminds us that trying to go against God’s purpose is a battle we will not win. No matter how much we strive, no matter how many plans we make, God’s purpose for our lives is what will ultimately win out. This is not a bad thing, but a desperately needed act of God’s grace.

A Calling Card for Change
Sometimes the resistance we feel is a calling card for change. The condition of our hearts is very important to God. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) reminds us, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Our hearts shape our actions, thoughts, and ultimately the quality, or lack thereof, of our futures. If we’ve got some unaddressed bitterness, pride, or unresolved conflict within us, we can best believe that God’s Will and desire is that we wake up and confront these heavies.

We must let God’s love into our dark places, renew our minds, and make the changes that more closely align us with the heart of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. He made it clear in Matthew 15:18-19 (NLT), “But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.” Everything in the dark will ultimately be exposed. The things we harbor inside will eventually spill out into our lives. It will affect our relationships, our decisions, and even our peace. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God has given us all spiritual blessings because of our union with Christ. This means that we are fully equipped to live abundantly, and our transformation is key to experiencing this abundance.  

Doors Keep Closing, No Matter What

If doors are closing all around you, it may be God’s way of keeping you from something that’s not meant for you. Maybe you’re trying to force your way into a season, a relationship, or an opportunity that isn’t aligned with His purpose. Instead of seeing it as failure, try to see it as protection. God’s plan for you is so much bigger than what you might be able to see right now.

Don’t try to force a square peg into a round hole. It’s a waste of energy and resources. God assures us in Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT), “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Our Heavenly Father doesn’t make mistakes. He sees the whole picture—everything we’re going through, everything we will face, and everything we’re meant to become. Pushing harder against resistance may seem like the right thing to do, but in many cases, it will not make things fall into place. Only God can do this in His perfect timing, and this is where we need to place our trust.

Trust the Lord

Sometimes the block is simply an invitation to us to trust God more. We’re so used to relying on our own abilities, plans, and timing; we disconnect from what it is to simply let go and let God. He’s calling upon us to do as Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) instructs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Faith requires us to let go of control and lean fully on Him. We have to stop striving in our own strength and depend on His. He’s the only One who can guide us on the path He’s laid before us. Depending totally on Him is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves.

As you pause and reflect, ask our Heavenly Father, “Is there something in my heart that needs to be aligned with Your purpose?” He tells us in Proverbs 3:6 that when we seek His Will in all we do; He will show us which path to take. Don’t delay. Pray that He will purify your hearts and be patient as He does. When your motivation is to see His plans unfold more clearly in your life, blocks will fade away as He leads you on the path of His purpose.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Knowing When You Are Blocked”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.