As I think about my own journey of faith in Jesus, there have been seasons of closeness and connection with God and seasons of distance and detachment. I have been thinking about ways to go about getting “unstuck” whenever I hit a wall in my relationship with God, and wanted to share some words of wisdom I have collected over the years and will forever come back to when I find myself in the midst of a spiritually dry season.
I pray that your affections are stirred for Jesus even now as you are reading this, and that God reveals His love to you as you open your heart to Him and SPEAK, STUDY + SEEK, and SERVE.
SPEAK // Using words:
God loves you. Yes, you! No matter what you are thinking or feeling, you cannot surprise or disappoint your Creator. He already knows your heart, and He loves to hear from His children. Speak to God. Write your prayers down on paper, type them in the Notes app on your iPhone, take a walk on your lunch break and talk to the One who knows you better than you know yourself. If you aren’t even sure what to say, you can tell Him that too. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words and to help you articulate your feelings. Through Jesus we are able to come before our Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere. Stop, and make time to speak to Him.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. – Romans 8:26
STUDY + SEEK // Using resources:
The Word of God is powerful and useful in all circumstances, and can provide tremendous comfort and encouragement when you need to get unstuck spiritually. Study the Bible. There are so many tools and resources available to help you as you begin to read the Scriptures. I have included a list of suggestions below, in no particular order. Ask God to reveal Himself to you as you seek Him by reading the Bible. God loves you. Yes, you! The stories and truths found within the Holy Scriptures are a gift He has given to us, an unchanging account of His character and love for His children.
- Read a daily devotional or books by Christian authors (See some of my favorites HERE)
- Go to church
- Listen to the podcasts of a pastor or Christian teacher you respect
- Reach out to a friend with a strong faith in Jesus and a knowledge of the Scriptures
- Listen to the music that encourages your heart toward Christ
- Join a Bible Study
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
SERVE // Using time:
Sometimes a season of feeling stuck in your faith in Christ can lead to introspection and self-evaluation. Although it is important to dive deeply into your own mind and heart, you can often get trapped there and begin to endlessly analyze yourself. Do yourself a favor: Stop soul-searching long enough to serve someone else. God calls us to serve others, and everything He calls us to is simultaneously for our good and for His glory. Refocusing your energy and time on something outside of yourself will refresh your perspective, rearrange your priorities, and will begin to renew your sense of purpose. God loves you. Yes, you! The most beautiful thing about God’s love is that it never terminates on us: When we accept the love of God in Jesus, we are empowered and enabled to love others. If you are stuck right now, ask the Lord to give you eyes to see where and who you can serve.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. – Philippians 2:3
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” – Luke 3:10-11
If you are feeling stuck, I would love to pray for you! Please reach out to me anytime using the contact form below.
UNPRECEDENTED 