Once again during my walk to the train station, I came upon a penny in the middle of the road. I bent down to retrieve it only to find that it was stuck in some tar. I tried to loosen it with my fingers but to no avail. The penny was not concerned about being stuck, but it bothered me because I wanted to use it in the way for which it was created. The purchase power of a penny is not much, but add some other coins and it will give you enough change to make a purchase, such as food, etc. I decided that I would pry the penny loose this evening on my walk home.

People can be stuck and not know it, in which case it would not bother them, but it bothers God because He wants to use us for the purpose for which He created us. However, if you are stuck and do know it, it can be very bothersome. Many people use the expression, “I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place”. If you should be reading this article, and you are not a Christian, you should be extremely bothered about being stuck, because you could be stuck in hell if you should die before becoming a Christian. Anyone can be unstuck and be released by Jesus and go to Heaven when they die. All one needs to do is believe that Jesus is the son of God, that He died on the cross for your sins, ask His forgiveness for your sins and invite Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38 & 39; Romans 6:23). If we don’t stand for something, we can fall for anything. God gave us the Bible to read on a daily basis, it is our guidebook of instructions on how to live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34). By reading the Bible and asking God to speak to us through His word, we may get released from places where we are stuck and don’t wish to be.

I am writing about this because I was once stuck and not feeling too good about it. Since I am one of God’s disciples, I must share the Good News with all who are ready to be pried loose. This can take much time and effort, but all of us were created to spend eternity with God in Heaven. God purchased us for a price and that price was the blood of Jesus (God’s own son) when He died on the cross (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

God is waiting for you to change so you can be used for the purpose for which you were created. God will place people in your path that are willing to take the extra time and effort it may take in order to pry you loose. There is another saying that “every penny counts”; rest assured that to God every person counts. An active faith in Jesus can prevent us from getting “stuck in a rut”.

Most people look for quick ways of doing things or getting places. We call them “shortcuts”.

Some shortcuts, like finding a different way to walk home that is shorter, or taking different roads when driving that get us where we are going just a little faster seem to work out okay. But, through experience, not all shortcuts work out too well. We are in such a hurry most of the time that shortcuts can get us lost or harmed (Psalms 4:8 and 91:9-10).

I thought about making a list of some unhealthy shortcuts, but rather than doing that just take a minute to think of times that you have tried shortcuts. What were the results? (Hebrews 10:36)

One thing for sure, there is no shortcut to Heaven, including the taking of one’s own life. The only way to get to Heaven is via Jesus, and if you trust in Him and have asked Him into your heart you can be sure He will get you there safely, and in His time. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

When a young man becomes 21 years of age it is a United States law that he register with the government in case it becomes necessary to have a draft into the military service. Some volunteer to serve in the military, some wait to be drafted, and some are drafted but still refuse to serve their country.

Persons that believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and ask Him into their hearts become what we call Christians and they are considered to be in God’s service, but some choose to be inactive. However, God will not force us to sign up for active duty, He wants us to do so out of love for Him. God has many assignments for which some volunteer, some are called and others are drafted by the Holy Spirit.

For instance, my church needed someone for moderator of its women’s group, and at the same time they needed someone to be in charge of programs. The Lord used someone taking about the number three which made me feel called to volunteer to be program chairperson. However, this still left an opening for moderator. I began doing some things on my computer, which I thought would help whomever volunteered to become moderator, thinking this way they would not feel overwhelmed. The next thing I know, I was volunteering to act as moderator until someone else came forward. That was three or four years ago. Therefore, I tell folks that God drafted me (via the Holy Spirit), because if I had been asked I know without a doubt I would have responded with a NO! The Lord has his way of helping us to grow in places where we don’t feel adequate. He calls us to serve Him with whatever talents we have at the moment and He promises to give each one of us on-the-job training. In the Scriptures it says, “We love Him because He first loved us” and “faith without works is dead”.

Which kind of person are you? A volunteer or one that waits to be drafted! Why not volunteer right now to follow Jesus Christ, make Him Lord of your life and serve Him.