Life can be turbulent and cause us to feel scattered and fill us with inner turmoil.

Getting unstuck is difficult.

Everything around us can appear to be falling apart or is scattered beyond our ability to connect the pieces.

Sometimes these feelings take up residence in our mind and even our bodies. Where can you find hope to get unstuck and move forward?

Are you out of sorts or out of sync?

Are you feeling disconnected from yourself or others?

Do you have so many items on your “To Do” list that you are utterly confused?

What is your body trying to communicate to you about the turmoil, chaos or confusion within your inner self?

Hope For the Disconnected Soul

Slow down.

Breathe deeply.

Pause.

Recognize what is happening within the immaterial part of your being, your soul – your thoughts, feelings and desires.

Often these disconnections are revealed in our bodies in some fashion.

Perhaps you have a nagging headache, which might signify frustration, anger or stress. Alternatively, does your stomach get queasy or upset? This might indicate some type of fear. Trembling legs or bouncing knees while seated usually indicates nervousness, which ultimately can be traced back to some type of fear.

Consider your heart rate and breathing as well. Are you settled or are you feeling anxious in this moment, identified by a racing heart or shallow breathing.

Pause and consider what is happening in your body.

Steps to Reconnect with Yourself

Connect: Consider your Body Reactions

Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 43:5

Do you hear it? “Self, what’s up? Something seems off with you today.”

The psalmist asks himself a question that we should all be asking.

When was the last time you checked in with yourself – body, feelings and thoughts? This is the first step in getting unstuck.

The psalmist realizes his body is reacting to something within and he needs to pause and consider his internal being. He recognizes that his soul is cast down and in turmoil.

Reconnecting with his own body and being attentive to things like pain, nervous energy, heart rate and breath brings recognition of something much deeper.

Take a body check. Think about how your body is reacting right now. Then, start the hard work of digging deeper to determine the “whys.”

Connect: Identify the Obstacles

In this particular psalm, the turmoil seems to be related to the enemies in the psalmist’s midst. Perhaps the psalmist’s very own downcast soul is behaving as an enemy of his forward momentum.

Can you identify with the psalmist?

Who or what are the enemies you face – real or perceived.

An enemy is someone or something which opposes you and the work you have been called to pursue. Every obstacle or enemy hinders forward momentum in your journey of life.

Take back control, identify the obstacles and continue to run the marathon of your life. This is a second step in how to get unstuck.

Often we cannot recognize the enemies or obstacles we face.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

Have you identified the obstacles you are facing today? Are they feelings of inadequacy? Do you have a strained or broken relationship? Is something oppressing you or causing you to feel constricted?

Sadly, many of us don’t take the time to identify what the obstacles are in our lives, or we don’t dig deep enough. I’ve heard one strategy from Darren Hardy is to dig deeper and ask “why” 5 times about a specific subject.

For example, I’m sad today. Why am I sad today? I think it’s because I’m all alone. Why am I all alone? Because I don’t feel like going out with friends today. Why don’t I feel like going out with friends today? And while I know one could circle back to because I’m sad today, that won’t accomplish anything productive. Why don’t I want to go out with friends today? Because I’m embarrassed about my wardrobe. Why am I embarrassed about my wardrobe? Because my clothes are out of date. Why are my clothes out of date? Because I would rather save my money than invest in clothes.

Conduct a “5 Why” Analysis

Through this series of “why” questions, you may discover there is something else going on that you hadn’t considered.

And with this new discovery, you realize that despite what you are feeling, you are making decisions to move forward. You are empowered to reconnect with yourself and see your circumstances from a new or more healthy perspective.

Connect: Embrace the Truth

Now that you’ve identified the enemies or obstacles in your life, it’s time to seek solutions for getting unstuck.

Often finding the solution is difficult and beyond our ability to discover. We can attempt to think up our own solution or call out to someone with more insight and wisdom, the God who loves us.

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling.

Psalm 43:3

Join the psalmist in asking for God’s light and truth.

The psalmist admits his lostness and need for direction, even redirection.

God’s light and truth are powerful means to discovering our path in this life. With the inspiration of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, we can discern the enemies and obstacles we face, both external and those within. Sometimes the enemy within us and is much more difficult to wrestle.

Recognizing how the psalmist’s soul can work against him, he commands his soul to hope in God. The psalmist alters his attitude about God as he reminds himself that God is the source of all that is necessary in life.

We too need an attitude adjustment.

God is the One who created us and continues to provide for our needs, who sustains us breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat. Without God, we are nothing but dust and dirt.

Everything we need for this life is found in God – He truly is our only hope. God is our one true source of hope in this turbulent life. Amazingly, God’s light and truth can also usher us into the presence of the Lord.

Connect: Remember God’s Goodness

The psalmist praised God in the past and he encouraged himself with the knowledge that he will praise Him again in the future.

Reminding ourselves, as the psalmist did, of all the ways the Lord is worthy of our praise is good for our souls and will help us get unstuck.

How often do we forget the Lord’s care and protection?

He gently tends His creation, including you and me, and holds all things together. In addition to providing for our needs, the Lord enables us to work and pursue our passions.

Looking towards an uncertain future, keep in the forefront of your mind the way the Lord has provided for you in the past.

Trust that He will continue to provide and protect you in the days ahead.

Recounting that God is not some distant being, the psalmist states that God is his God – not just information acquired through study.

There is a close connection … a deep knowing of one another … between the psalmist and God. Without a doubt, God knows the psalmist perfectly.

But now the psalmist is growing in his understanding that this One and Only God, is also his own personal God, so close that the psalmist intimately experiences God’s light, truth, hope and salvation.

Connect: Remember God’s Nearness

Recognize God’s personal connection in your life journey through the ups and downs, through the turbulence.

Even though there are battles outside and within, you can be assured that your personal God hears your cry for His light, truth, provision, protection and salvation.

Recount the ways God has provided for you. Praise Him for His steadfast love and mercy towards you.

Knowing God hears us when times are turbulent or we feel scattered can be transformative.

Take steps today to recognize your body, thoughts and feelings.

Explore the obstacles you are facing.

Trust that the Lord desires your wholeness and call upon Him for His light and truth.

Believe He will reveal what is necessary for you to know about Him and your next step in your journey of life. God waits for you and promises to be found by you.

Draw near to God today.

Connect: Seek the Lord Now

God is closer than you think. Call upon this personal and ever-so-close God, who is for you … always.

Prayer: Lord, You know my inner and outer turmoil, how I want to get unstuck and find hope. And You are in the midst of my battles day by day. Lord, I surrender my thoughts, fears and worries to You. You alone can address them adequately and thank You for Your continual care of my own soul and my loved ones. Lord, I admit it is sometimes difficult to hold on to hope, but I know You have provided for me in the past and so I choose to trust You with my uncertain future. Thank You for leading me into your truth day by day, for Your glory and my good.

Move Forward and Connect with the Lord today

♥ Identify the state of your body, mind and emotions.

♥ Seek the Lord’s light and truth.

♥ Remind yourself of His praiseworthiness in the past.

♥ Hope in God for your uncertain future.

♥ Encourage yourself that God is already there (in your future) preparing your way forward.

Need more opportunities for Connecting with God? Request the free guide, Reflections for Your Soul.