Last night as I was mindlessly scrolling through YouTube, I came upon a video of people PURPOSELY getting into quicksand. Yes, sounds crazy, but it was actually for the sake of teaching them what to do if they ever ended up there by mistake. (Side note: was anyone else terrified of finding quicksand as a kid and falling to the center of the Earth? Just me? Cool, let’s continue) Anyways, after I watched the video and continued on, a spiritual truth hit me like a ton of bricks.

We are the people and the quicksand is our life.

For the sake of knowledge, if you happen to find yourself in this sinking substance, as long as you’re in motion (stomping your feet from left to right), you won’t sink. You stay just above the rippling surface and your feet never penetrate the depths of the sand below. But if you stand still – if you stay in a place of stagnation – you start to sink. The sand moves slowly up your legs, past your knees and before you know it, you are waist deep in sand with what appears to be no way out.

But get this… when the trainer found herself in this position, instead of flailing and FREAKING OUT, which totally would’ve been my reaction, she steadied herself on one leg and strategically started shaking the other leg vigorously, loosening the sand around that limb.

In motion, the water was able to move and give way to the sand that was holding her in place. When she stayed motionless, she would again become stuck and start sinking further into the earth. Once one leg was free, she used the width of her free leg to anchor herself and began the same process with the other leg. And in 3 minutes tops, she was standing on top of the sand again, free as a bird.

Did you picture that? Can you see the what I am trying to paint here?

We all have an idea of where we want to be in the future. Or at least most of us do.

When we flail about, not really having much direction, hoping we will make it to our destination, the outcome is grim. You are likely headed down an uneasy, sinking path, making wrong decisions that impact everything. There is no balance, no grace, no structure. You are just “winging” it.

On the other hand, when you stay still, you sink. You see no hope or future, and everything is dark. Meaningless. Lifeless.

But when you have an anchor and a strategy, victory will surely find you. Maybe not in the timetable you imagined or by the means that you had in mind, but your destination will be right where God wants you.

So, my question is this. Do you have a strategy? Are you flailing aimlessly, standing still, or moving strategically?

We get one shot here on this earth. One tiny speck of time belongs to us. And we were put here ON PURPOSE for such a time as this. Do not waste it, friends. On your bad days, trust in God and hold on tight. On all the other days, be passionate about something. Make a difference. Tell someone about Jesus and change their life.

Because, y’all, someone changed mine. By just a seed. That is something I could never put a price on. You won’t understand the impact you had here until you’re on the other side of Heaven.

Let’s make sure we have a strategy. Let’s be intentional about how we spend our lives. Let’s change the world one person at a time, starting with us.

You ready?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11