Have you ever just been in a dry season spiritually? Everyone experiences this, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’ve recently started calling this season “On the Mountain” because to be transparent with you, friend, I’m right there now.
I’m not sure about you, but I’ve gone through emotional stages with this quarantine/social distancing/ just not being able to see my people. At first I was really sad, but I needed a break from life so it wasn’t terrible. Then I just wasn’t really thinking about it too much. I was just kind of riding the waves, so to speak. Then it hit me HARD. I missed people. I missed my church family, and I lost all motivation to do literally ANYTHING. I was in the middle of finals week, pulling my hair out to finish, working more than I had in six months and throwing a total pity party for myself. Then I realized I hadn’t been carving out time in my life to spend with God every day like I should. I was skipping quiet time and finding myself keeping busy, so that I didn’t have to deal with that guilt.
I realized I was avoiding everything… and hated it. I hated feeling distance between God and me. I knew I had strayed and wanted to beg for forgiveness, so I did because I knew I was causing the issue. I was the reason there was distance between God and me. I prayed that God would forgive me for the things I put in front of Him. I picked a new book to read in the Bible and read every day, but things didn’t start moving as quickly back to normal as I had hoped.
I felt like I wasn’t moving. I was standing still. I was picking up my feet to walk, but I didn’t move a muscle. I began to think about the references we use as believers of “the mountain top” and “the valley.” But what about the part of the mountain you actually have to climb? Where’s our fancy word for that? Then I realized that if I’m not at my lowest in the valley and I’m not dancing on the mountain top, then I’m just “on the mountain.” Some days I’m making progress in my walk with God, and other days I’m just sitting there.
It was at this point I realized where I was, and I reached out to some really important ladies in my life to ask them what they did in their own lives when they’re in a spiritual funk. If you’re facing this same spiritual battle I am or something similar, here is what they told me.
– DON’T STOP READING GOD’S WORD, even if you feel like it’s not sticking. IT WILL NEVER RETURN VOID.
– DON’T STOP PRAYING. BE TRANSPARENT WITH GOD, even if you feel like God isn’t listening.
– DON’T STOP FELLOWSHIPPING. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BELIEVERS! (In other words…be safe!)
– ADMIT THE DISTANCE. REPENT. WALK FORWARD.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, NIV)
You may be in this season of regression because God is trying to call you out of a certain sin in your life. You may have experienced heartbreak and can’t seem to let go of what hurt you. You may feel guilty. You may be ignoring God’s calling on your life. You may just be stuck on the mountain and have no idea why.
But I urge and encourage you… do NOT stay sitting on the mountain, because it’s comfortable, life is busy, or because we’re not meeting in the church building. The body of believers surrounds you and is here for you. Most importantly, Christ has not forgotten about you or is planning on getting back to you later. He is with you. He is calling you to a higher purpose, a closer and deeper relationship with Him. Keep clinging to Him. Trust Him. Why put your hope into anything else other than the one who gave everything to have a relationship with you? God cares for you. He is not sitting back pointing His finger, disappointed in you because your relationship has been lacking recently. He’s saying that He wants your attention, adoration, worship, devotion and love. He wants you.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, KJV)
Pray this with me.
Lord, help us to recognize where we fail you. As we sit on this mountain, looking down from where we have come and the journey we have had, and as we look to where you are calling us, help us not to forget you. You are our prize. May we praise you on the mountain and wherever we go and fully give our hearts and minds to you. Lord, I pray that those who read this are encouraged. I pray, Lord, that even on their weakest days they would remember that you promise to go before, behind, and beside them and that you will never forsake them. Thank you, Lord, for Jesus and His sacrifice, so that we could have this communication with you. Amen.