Have you ever felt weak in your faith? Was there ever a time in your life when it appeared like you only couldn’t hold on? If so, then you definitely are usually not alone. The Bible reassures us that there are believers all around the globe experiencing the identical thing (see 1 Peter 5:9). Here’s the excellent news. When we feel like we’re drifting away, we now have a Savior who will lead us back to safety.
Twenty-one years ago, my husband and I were having a grand time on the beach for our honeymoon in Destin, Florida. I remember it as if it were yesterday. The winds were high, and the waves were strong, but we decided to go swimming anyway. Laying on this red raft, relaxing within the waters with my newlywed hubby, impulsively, I checked out the people on the shore and realized all of them appeared miniature. When I turned around and looked behind me, I saw an enormous wave about to scrub over me.
Immediately, I jumped off the raft, threw it off to the side, and commenced reaching for my husband’s hand. As he tried to achieve for me, one other wave rushed over and pulled me back. As I attempted to get my footing, my feet kept sinking deeper into the sand. I’d drifted too removed from the shore. I knew that I used to be in peril.
It’s the identical way with our faith. Sometimes, we will find ourselves either having too good of a time in life or not paying enough attention to the state of our own spiritual lethargy that we don’t even realize that we’re slowly drifting away from our passion for God. The author in Hebrews warns us, “So we must listen rigorously to the reality we now have heard, or we may drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1). For a moment, I would like to speak about what to do once you feel such as you’re drifting away out of your faith.
4 Actions to Take When You Feel Like You’re Drifting in Faith
- Recognize where you might be. When I used to be within the Gulf of Mexico, drifting further and further away from the shore, I needed to stop, sit up, and recognize where I used to be at that moment. I used to be too far out. Again, it could actually be the identical spiritually. We could get so caught up within the affairs of this life and slowly begin drifting away. So, step one is to pause and check the temperature of your heart. Is it still hot and on fire for Jesus, or is your fire or passion burning out? The key to igniting it again is to first recognize where you might be.
- Check your prayer time. If you ever end up in a spot where talking to God isn’t as essential because it was once, it’s possible you’ll be drifting away from the reality you once knew. Remember, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 encourages us to hope without ceasing. The strategy to combat this trick of the enemy is to be intentional about spending time in prayer. If you used to hope for quarter-hour but have gotten away from it, restart your routine with five minutes. Before you understand it, you’ll be back to normal.
- Watch your busyness. We live in a culture where everyone seems to be busy doing something. Busy with family. Busy with church responsibilities or functions. Busy with community outreach. Busy with work. Busy, just being busy. This may also be a method of our great enemy, Satan. The busier he could make us, the more we will drift away from spending time reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the word of God (see Joshua 1:8). So watch out and be careful for drifting through busyness.
- Stand strong through trials. Believe it or not, trials and the cares of this life generally is a difficult combo. Some saints have drifted or fallen completely away from the religion because life has just been hard. The key to standing strong through trying times is to recollect the One who carried you thru before. Also, knowing that God is the one One who can truly deliver you from all your troubles and provide all that you just need (see Philippians 4:19).
Drifting is a slow fade. It doesn’t occur unexpectedly. It’s drip by drip and little by little. Before you understand it, you’ve gone too far. When my husband and I were swimming in Destin, I’d drifted beyond a security zone. I actually forgot that I knew methods to swim. But once I remembered, I quickly began swimming back towards the shore to safety.
When or should you ever end up falling away from God, recognize where you might be. Remember that you just are a toddler of the Most High King. Don’t stop praying. Know who you’re living for and who can enable you during your trial. Lastly, don’t let anything or anyone rob you of your affection from the Lord. As James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he’ll draw near to you.”
Photo Credit: GettyImages/fizkes
