When The ‘Christian Things’ Starve Us

Beholding God in Our Weariness

Are you constantly weary, fearful of what tomorrow holds (or doesn’t hold) for you? Are you unmotivated? Are you questioning whether God even sees or hears you? Are you wondering if there will be an end to this season? Do you feel ‘shakable’, spiritually destabilized, and starved?

When The ‘Christian Things’ Starve Us

There are many reasons why you may be weary but there is one that is particularly tricky because it has the appearance of spirituality. It is easy to see why a pattern of unrepentant sin would (and should) lead a Christian to feel miserable spiritually. It is easy to see why a pattern of not reading the bible, not praying, or not fellowshipping with other believers would (and should) leave us starved. It is harder to see how we can do ‘Christian things’ in a way that starves and wearies us.

When walking with God is less about knowing/fellowshipping with God and more about checking off items on a to-do list, we are on a slippery slope. We can get into patterns of, for example, reading the bible simply because we want to be prepared to answer questions during our small group, or praying so we can move on with the rest of the day, or going to church because that’s what you do on Sundays, or using the bible primarily as a self-help book. Don’t get me wrong. God can, has, and uses such ill-motivated acts of obedience; but a pattern of treating God this way leads to spiritual starvation and heart-hardedness. I have often fallen into these patterns, but God has been so gracious to snap me out of it every time, sometimes through suffering.

Whatever You Do, Don’t Stop Beholding God!

Have you noticed how (almost) every Lament in the Bible ends or starts with a description of God’s Character? In the book of Job, God answered Job’s lament by telling Job who He is, not by answering all the ‘whys’ of his circumstances. Jesus says that to know God and Jesus Christ IS eternal life (John 17:3, ESV). Let not our acts of obedience become about the acts themselves. Let them be about knowing and fellowshipping with God. Often, our state of spiritual low is fueled by fear. Only in beholding God can we rightly see and realize we have nothing to fear. Any other source of boldness is at best temporary and at worst a lie.

He Holds All Things

Several weeks ago, I was in such a spiritual low and got very weary as a result. Then, I beheld Christ in this passage:

‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him, all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.’ (Colossians 1:15-19)

Beholding Christ, I remembered that he has dominion over all things, that he is the maker of all things, that he holds all things. What or whom shall I fear? The one who loves me so and gave his life for me holds the keys of life and death. No molecule in the universe makes a move outside of his Sovereignty. Beholding Christ, my spirit was restored. Beholding Christ, my fears dimmed and seemed almost ridiculous. Beholding Christ, I was ready to love others without expecting their approval or love in return because I was once again secure in the Love of Christ. Beholding Christ, I was watered and felt alive again. Beholding Christ, my heart was strengthened, and I was ready again to face the future because he holds all things!

If you are weary, feel starved and low spiritually, please pick up the Word and spend some time in it, beholding God. And keep doing it. The only thing that carries us out of spiritual weariness is beholding God, remembering, meditating, and soaking in who he is. Let the knowledge of who he is strengthen you. Pray and tell him your fears, your failures, your insecurities — ask him to help you! He is eager to restore you, more than you know. Only in beholding Him will you find peace, strength, rest and comfort. In nothing else. Not in scrolling through social media or binge-watching TV or ruminating your fears. Only in beholding God.