Lord, please show me the way to become “unstuck” in my walk with Christ!

Last week the humongous cargo ship “Evergreen” became “stuck” at the mouth of the Suez Canal blocking passage for any ship desiring to go through. The size of this “behemoth” ship  staggers the imagination measuring in at 1,312.00 feet long and weighing approximately 200,000 metric tons fully loaded. It captured the attention of the world when it completely blocked the canal on March 23rd. They say that it is roughly the size of the Empire State Building and one of the largest such ships in the world. The “Suez Canal” is likely the most important and noteworthy of such passages in the whole world providing a thoroughfare where ships and cargo can pass from the Red Sea into the vast waters of the Mediterranean typically with ease. The aftermath of the accidental grounding has been said to have directly affected nearly every consumer in the world one way or another. From the 360 cargo ships stranded in the Red Sea to the cargo of the “Evergreen” itself, economic impact enveloped the globe. A German insurer said according to CNN, that the delay “could cost global trade 6-10 billion dollars a week until the problem is resolved, and orderly passage is resumed.”

When it comes to being “stuck,” I suppose there are fewer greater examples than this to illustrate the immobilization, and consequences of becoming stuck. For days following this incident in the “Suez Canal” authorities and experts have tried various methods to getting the “Evergreen” unstuck, but to no avail. They lightened her load, which helped for a time, but not nearly enough to become “unstuck.” They have tried everything, so it seems, to resolve this economic and diplomatic crises. The bottom line is that days into this incredible story about everything has been tried that can be tried. The ship was hopelessly “stuck” for days.

It is fascinating that an incident such as this with a magnitude of seismic economic proportions has occurred just days before the “Passion Week” of Christ, and Easter. One could argue that two thousand years ago, when the political and socioeconomic realities of Jesus’ time came to a screeching halt as well, that it would take an action so profound could that it could change the very course of history and affect all of our lives at the same time.

Being “Stuck,” is a reality that is all-too-familiar to the conscientious soul. We possess the desire, at least, to move along through our lives unabated by obstructions, spiritual or otherwise, only to find ourselves wedged between the desire to make forward progress but also experiencing the hopelessness of immobility. Try as we may on our own, we just can’t seem to free ourselves from the “cargo” of our lives. We are stuck in place while the whole world is watching, or so it feels like. There just doesn’t seem to be a way forward and despair is around every corner as we try, and fail, to become unstuck on our own. We need help.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation” (Romans 5:6-9, NLT)

Because “timing is everything,” the timing of Jesus’ arrival Easter week in Jerusalem two-thousand years ago is particularly important. The Easter story of Jesus is not merely a seemingly ancient tale, but more nearly a picture of absolute redemption. Through His sacrifice we become “unstuck.” The interesting caveat in these words from the Apostle Paul are is that God did this, sent His own Son, at the exact moment we were still “stuck in sin.” Being “stuck” is to be human, but to be forgiven, well that’s divine.

Thankfully, the “Evergreen” finally became unstuck after the world watched with great curiosity for almost a week. So, the world is watching. What will you be willing to do to also become “unstuck” this Easter? Simply removing some “cargo” from your life is not enough, it’ll take a “tug-boat” of grace to get you there and thankfully the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient.


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