Inertia Buster: Stop the Belly Aching

Inertia got me this weekend and I confess to becoming Queen Couch Potato. I'm up and moving, maybe slower than I like, but I'm moving forward. The momentum is coming.

Little reminder of the definition of inertia: a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force

The Bible has all my answers. So, today I go to Joshua 17:14-18 to look at God's people who got stuck and caught up in inertia. Seems the tribe of Joseph had some complaints about their inheritance of land.

These descendants of Joseph drug their weary selves to have a word with Joshua. Stalling and whining they laid out all their "good" reservations against moving out and taking charge of their land. Hear them grumble,

"We don't want to...

• Fight off the giants
• Clear the forests
• Navigate the hill country
• Deal with the terrain

The last straw was the new innovation of the Canaanites' iron chariots. We can't possibly war against new innovation.

Folks, I sound like Joseph's boys when I'm overwhelmed. Sorry to say, I sit and sit and ponder how much I don't like where I am with what I know I need to do...now.

They came to Joshua to make a deal for a different piece of real estate in the Promised Land.

Joshua would hear not one word of this negative whining lament. Listen to the man of God,

"Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to E'phraim and Manas'seh, "You are a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong."

Unfortunately these tribes responded with self-centered and whiny moans that were somewhat like this, " We don't want to do it. It's too hard, we can't. We don't even think we should have to do it. Do you know who our daddy is? We're Joseph's boys."

I love this response, in verses 17-18 Joshua tells his tribesmen that if they're such special people, now is a great opportunity to prove it. Let them do what Caleb did, go up and claim the mountains, and defeat the giants.

Joshua told them to prove their strength by taking this land and anyone who would dare try to interfere.. Get up and Do it!!!

I am writing this blog titled Thrive Christians; and I have inertia! Something is wrong with this picture.

No, inertia is over. I am up and moving. Since Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Lord,

I am the recipient of limitless ability to change

• I have incredible strength to do battle personally with destructive habits


• Paul writes, "I can do all things through Him [Christ] who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
• Paul writes again, this time the Lord Jesus speaking to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."


• Paul responds immediately, "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).


• Finally, the apostle Peter says, talking about Jesus, "...He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). Here is my antidote to inertia in Christian living.

I know I'm not the only one who's stuck for a moment. I want to encourage anyone else stalling on your next chore. You and I can overcome this condition. In Christ God will show us the way to vibrant life.

• I am commited to faithfully using the resources God has given me.
• I will bloom where I am planted. I'm giving up complaining about my situation.
• I will not waste energy rationalizing and complaining.
• I will do something constructive, NOW, by faith in God.

God is changing my INERTIA to INITIATIVE.

In Psalm 138 David writes God's answer to his cry from fearful inertia:

"When I called, you answered me;and you made me bold and stout-hearted."