Delaney Johnston is sharing devotional thoughts with us today! You can stop by the contributors page to learn more about her.
So often, “spiritual deserts” can appear endless. As pressures begin to mount and zeal begins to dimmer, our desire for God (and His Word) can quickly metamorphose into apathy. If we’re not careful, it’s through these seasons of spiritual wilderness in which Bible study can begin to feel more like a daily chore than our Daily Bread.
Weakness. Fatigue. Despair. Barrenness. Indifference.
Amidst these moments in our Christian walk, we tend to struggle to maintain strength—emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Such diminishing fortitude ultimately leads us to allow personal fatigue, disordered schedules, and a whole laundry list of distractions to prevent us from digging into the Word . . . and the effects can be devastating.
Discouragement, worry, fear, anxiety, impatience—the whole nine yards—begin to blur our vision, cloud our thinking, and suffocate our hearts.
That’s what happens when we, as believers, set aside our swords. We’re now ill-equipped for battle, and the Enemy will undoubtedly take advantage of our vulnerability.
So this afternoon, I encourage you to grab your Bible, a pen, and a favorite journal to sit down to study—no more excuses, distractions, or hesitations. And though God’s Word ought never to be viewed as a “magic pill” toward personal comfort, I can honestly attest to the soul-cheering consolations of Scripture (Ps. 94:19). The Bible is alive and powerful (Heb. 4:12-14) and will never fail to redirect our focus back to Christ when we’ve allowed misplaced affections to drift us off course (Ps. 119:105).
Fellow believer, let this be your reminder that if we draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to us (James 4:8). Legalistically guilt-tripping ourselves for ‘falling out of routine’ will only cultivate shame, frustration, and distance between us and God. Wallowing in self-deprecation is never productive.
So, go ahead. Open your Bible. Read it. Allow its truths to reinvigorate your soul. Even if it’s been 4 days, 4 weeks, 4 months, or 4 years. Don’t allow your weakness to push you further from Christ; allow it to propel you into deeper dependence upon Him.
You might not initially *feel* like doing it, but God is graciously patient with the feebleness of His children. Permit resolution to triumph desire. When feelings are misplaced and passion runs dry, when we no longer feel motivated to do what we know we have been called to, let us resolve to be faithful, in spite of our fluctuating emotions or discouraged states.
We must let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly—in both the flourishing, and the desert, seasons.
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
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