History tends to repeat itself. A century ago, the Spanish Flu epidemic swept the world, causing almost 50 million deaths. For more than two years people were stuck in the middle of severe health restrictions that brought their lives to a standstill. But on its heels came a decade of tremendous progress and prosperity. They called it the Roaring Twenties!

Covid19 has caused many people to become stuck in a negative place. You may have had no choice about getting stuck, but you do have a choice whether or not to stay stuck! No matter how long you have been stuck, the right attitude can help you get moving again.

Some attitude-changers:

1. Forgiveness: The guilt that follows setback or failure can immobilize you. But forgiveness liberates you, freeing up your energy and creativity.
2. Faith: When you have been stuck a long time, forward momentum can seem impossible. You lack direction, energy, and confidence. Gaining some traction requires the willingness to act in spite of your feelings. (Phil 3:14 TM) “I’m off and running and I’m not turning back.”

 Getting unstuck involves two more challenges:

1. Flexibility. When your faith runs into obstacles, your flexibility keeps you in the race. You need to roll with the punches and bend without breaking. Don’t be married to your methods! Be willing to make a mid-course correction when needed. There are many ways to kill a giant. David couldn’t do it in Saul’s amour, but he knew that wasn’t his only option!

Flexibility is an attitude of determination to adjust to life’s challenges and stay on course; to trust God for wisdom; to fine-tune your responses to changing circumstances.

Flexibility is a commitment to take action. A positive mindset alone won’t get you unstuck. You’ll have to do something! Remember, big doors swing on little hinges. Taking small steps of faith will move you forward!

2. Firmness is a resolve not to quit. You’ll encounter problems that leave you no option but to stand still, like the Israelites, between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. In the tightest of spots, they received this five-fold counsel:

1. Don’t give in to fear. Don’t let fear decide your response.
2. Stand still. Resist irrational, emotion-driven impulses.
3. Be quiet. Don’t talk yourself into defeat.
4. Look for Gods way forward. Expect Him to show you how to get unstuck.
5. Be ready to move forward when He opens the way.

These are simple but powerful steps you can take when you don’t know what to do. And if you blow it: just acknowledge it, re-label it as “lessons learned”, and put it in your “what not to do next time” file! When this pandemic has run its course, it will be the Roaring Twenties all over again and we don’t want to miss it!

Yours for the Roar of God’s Lions!

Dr. George Hill,
President and Founder, VCI