This blog is based on notes from our podcast, Tuesday Talks, which goes live every Tuesday at 2 PM on our YouTube page and website. You can also find the devotional that accompanies the blog right here:

Have you ever felt like you just can’t move forward, like you're stuck in a cycle and you can’t find your way out? Whether it’s spiritual, emotional, or mental – we all have our moments when it feels like we're just spinning our wheels, unsure of what’s next.

What is it that causes us to feel like we aren’t able to move forward? Or maybe we just don’t know where to go next?

“People become stuck because they’ve not seen what I see. They adhere to a way of thinking that leads only to struggle, stress, and confusion. Mostly, it happens because people become double-minded, with one foot in the Old Covenant and one in the New, trying to reconcile both in their spiritual walk with Me.”

Did you catch that?

People get stuck because they don’t see things the way God sees them. Instead, they hold onto old ways of thinking that only bring stress and confusion. This double-mindedness is a huge roadblock to moving forward.

That idea of being "double-minded" — trying to hold onto both the Old Covenant and the New — is powerful. It’s like trying to live in two worlds at once. One foot is in the past, and the other is trying to move forward into the new life we have in Christ. This mindset leads to confusion, and confusion leads to being stuck.

The key to moving forward is changing how we see things. God has made us new creations in Christ. That’s a fresh start! But we can’t fully experience the freedom of the new life until we stop holding onto the old ways.

Jesus Himself told us in John 16:33:

“Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is victorious. The battle is already won! So why do we keep expecting life to be one long struggle? What if we started living with the expectation that God is with us in every situation and will provide peace and victory?

It’s not about denying our circumstances. It’s not about pretending that everything is fine when it’s not. We don’t rejoice in the difficulty itself. But we can rejoice in who God is and what He’s promised to do in the midst of those circumstances.

When we focus on who God is – His goodness, His faithfulness, His power – we shift our perspective. We don’t rejoice because everything is easy, but we rejoice because God is with us, and He is bigger than any challenge we face.

Faith and trust are the results of knowing who God is. They don’t come by trying harder, but by remembering and celebrating His character. Rejoicing in who God is builds trust and faith in us.

How often do we try to "try harder" to have more faith? We’ve all been there. But faith isn’t something you can manufacture. It grows in an atmosphere of thanksgiving and delight. When we rejoice in the Lord, when we thank Him for who He is, our faith grows naturally.

You see, trust is the evidence of God’s presence. Sometimes we experience God’s presence in our emotions, and that’s wonderful! Those "God-bump" moments are incredible. But trust is just as powerful – and just as real – when we don’t feel anything at all.

Even when we don’t "feel" God in our emotions, we can still trust Him. Trust is evidence of His presence because we’re choosing to rely on Him, regardless of our feelings.

What if you began to expect good things from God? What if you chose to anticipate that His presence would be with you in every situation?

The old mindset that life with God will be difficult and full of struggle – that’s not the new life we have in Christ. Jesus doesn’t want us to live in that old way anymore. When we expect struggle, we often choose stress before anything has even happened. But what if we stopped expecting hardship and began to expect God’s goodness instead?

God’s promises are bigger than the struggles we face. Instead of anticipating a long, hard battle, what if we expected an outpouring of His presence – the same presence that overcomes the world?

The good news is that you are a new creation in Christ! The old is gone, and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). This doesn’t mean that we won’t face challenges, but it means we don’t have to go through them with the same old mindset of defeat and struggle. We can go through them with the One who has already overcome the world.

God wants to transform your expectations. He wants to fill you with peace, hope, and joy in the midst of every circumstance. You are not bound by the old way of thinking anymore. Your life can be full of His presence, His peace, and His power.

I want to invite you to take a moment right now, wherever you are. Take a deep breath, and let’s trust God together. Let go of any old expectations of struggle and stress, and choose to rest in His promises.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus gives us an amazing invitation:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus wants to partner with you. He wants to help you carry your burdens, and He promises to make your load lighter. The good news is that He’s not asking you to do it alone. His presence is always with you, and He’s always working in you.

So, what would happen if every day, in every situation, you began to expect God’s presence to outpour on you? What if you started expecting peace, patience, joy, and hope to rise up within you, no matter the circumstances?

We all face difficulties in life, but we don’t have to face them with stress and struggle. We can face them with the assurance that we are partnered with the One who has overcome the world.

Take a moment today to reflect on your expectations. Ask God to renew your heart and mind, and to fill you with the peace and joy that only He can give.