4 Biblical Truths to get out of a spiritual rut: Jumpstart your faith again

“God just meet me where I’m at”

That was the only phrase I can remember from my afternoon prayer one Friday afternoon. God just meet me where I’m at. I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant for me, since lately I had felt like my emotions were getting the best of me with this pregnancy. But one thing was sure, they were the first real words I felt come from my soul in a long time.

I had fallen into a spiritual rut for quite some time, and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get out of it. Even today, I’m still afraid that I’ll jump back into old habits, which serve me no purpose in my spiritual walk, habits that eventually deviate us from righteousness. This week happens to be Holy Week, which has thankfully helped propel me back into action as I study up on new topics and regain a new thirst for God.

But what went wrong? Why do we lose the inspiration or motivation we so eagerly start off with? We could act ignorant and say, “life just happens,” but you and I would know that’s a lie. No, the truth is most of us are aware of when the enemy starts to deceive us into doing ANYTHING but read the spend time with God. Things like pleasing our guilty pleasures or enjoying a night of Netflix and Chill soon become second nature, and accountability flies out the window. I confess there were days I would spend all day on the couch rotting. Even as a mom, I’d justify my actions because I felt I deserved it. And slowly I’d prioritize my needs over God’s. Doing the bare minimum here and there but my heart and mind were never present. My body was going through the motions, but my spirit wasn’t alive.

I know you’ve probably found yourself in the same situation before, or maybe even going through it now. Let me skip to the end and tell you, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As Christians, we fall victims to the same theology the world has, work hard, play hard. But this is totally anti-God! Since nowhere in scripture does Jesus say, “Come follow me and everything is gonna be A-okay!” Yikes, what a lie from Satan himself.

Scripture tells us “In this world you will have tribulations,” John 16:33.

Did you see that, He didn’t say, you might, or could possibly, or I doubt, no Jesus said, we will absolutely have troubles in this world. The sooner we accept that promise, the quicker we can believe the next part.

“But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jesus the son of God, overcame death for you and me, not so that we continue to pity ourselves, embitter those around us, or complain about what we “aren’t” able to do.

Now, of course this is easier said than done, because I know that when we are going through the trenches, there isn’t any kind of word that will slap us back into reality.

Here are 4 biblical truths to help combat spiritual rut.

1. Always bring yourself back to the truth (oldie by goodie) John 3:16-17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Everyone and their momma have heard this verse but it’s so repeated and heard of it almost loses its value. But this verse holds so much potential for grounding our minds, when we feel like giving up.

2. God chose to die for you because He loves you so much. Psalms 139:13-14

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

This one gets me every time, especially while pregnant. Christ in all His mercy and love, not only formed us but held us as a special thought in his mind. He thought of what we would look like and who we would become. His love for us holds no boundaries even knowing that we would fail Him over and over again.

3. Always listen to your heart… uhh WRONG. Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Okay, so this is a two-part explanation, stay with me.

All throughout the Bible, we see the consequences of going after the desires of the heart and trusting our feelings rather than God. For example, David and Bathsheba, Aaron making a golden calf, or Judas betraying Jesus in exchange for money and so many more.

And to confuse you even more. Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding.”

“So, what does this mean!?”

First: we should put our full confidence in God at the very core of our being, this includes our “feelings”

Second: we are to avoid relying on our own flawed understandings

Third: we need to seek to know God in all our “ways” so that our life’s path will be made “straight,” as opposed to placing confidence in the just feelings of our deceitful hearts.

4. Remember our faith is refined in the fire. 1 Peter 1:7

“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

My friends, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Our faith is purified by fire, and at the end we come out even stronger, stealthier to the attacks of Satan. We can withstand the next trial that comes our way, with calloused hands we can fight back the lies that taunt us day after day, making us think we suck at being Christians.

Zechariah 13:9 “And I will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested, they will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is My God.”