You’re Not Stuck Where You Started

Pastor Steven Furtick made a statement in a message I listened to last month that has been on my mind lately: “You’re not stuck where you started. You’re stuck where you stopped.”

This line has resonated with me because, truthfully, I find myself in one of those “stuck” seasons right now. I’m not where I used to be, but I’m also uncertain about what comes next. It’s that strange in-between space where I’ve done a lot of growing, yet progress feels stagnant.

I’ve been here before, and there have been moments when I wanted to quit. Not because I didn’t care, but because I was simply tired. Tired of trying, tired of waiting, and tired of wondering if my efforts were even worth it. Sometimes it’s not a dramatic breakdown that holds you back. It’s a slow fade. One day of “I’ll try again tomorrow” turns into a week. Then a month passes, and suddenly it feels like nothing has changed.

That’s where I’ve been lately: stuck, not because I can’t move forward, but because somewhere along the way, I stopped.

When the Valley Feels Like Home

There have been times when I stayed in the valley longer than necessary. Not because I wanted to, but because it began to feel familiar. I convinced myself I was taking time to rest, but in reality, I was avoiding the next step.

It’s easy to get comfortable in that place. Even when it’s heavy, it feels predictable. You start to believe that waiting is safer than trying to move forward again. However, what I’ve learned is that the valley doesn’t end until you start walking. You can’t think or talk your way out of it. You have to take that first step, even if it feels small and uncertain.

The Power of One More Step

I’ve faced this moment before, where everything feels like a dead end. The times when I’ve told myself, “Maybe this is as far as I go.” But each time, something quiet inside me says, “Keep going. You’ve come too far to stop here.”

That small reminder has carried me through more seasons than I can count. It never made the challenges disappear, but it reminded me that I still had a choice. I wasn’t powerless. I wasn’t stuck where I started. I was stuck where I stopped.

And the way out wasn’t about waiting for motivation to show up. It was about choosing to move again, even without knowing what comes next.

Start Again. Even Here.

That’s where I am right now. I’m still figuring it out and moving through the fog. I don’t have everything planned out, but I’m choosing to start again anyway.

Starting again doesn’t always mean tearing everything down and beginning from scratch. Sometimes it’s just about doing one small thing that gets you back in motion. It could be writing a post like this, reaching out to someone, going for a walk, or doing something that reminds you that you’re still capable.

If you’re reading this and feel stuck, know that I understand. You’re not broken; you’re not behind. You might just be paused. The beautiful thing about a pause is that it can end the moment you decide to move again. I’d love to hear about your experiences and strategies for getting unstuck. Please share them in the comments below.

Closing Thought

Life moves in cycles. Some seasons are for growth, some for rest, and some for remembering that being stuck isn’t the same as being finished. Remember, you’re not stuck where you started. You’re stuck where you stopped.

You’ve already proven that you can start. Now, prove to yourself that you can start again. Even here. Even now. Even when you don’t know where the road leads.