Feeling Spiritually Stagnant? Here Are 5 Things You Need To Do
Spiritual stagnancy is something many of us experience in life. When I was younger, I remember being confused by these seasons that felt uneventful. I would go to conferences and feel like I left walking hand in hand with my Savior. But after a few weeks of normal life, of laundry and school work and little brothers pushing my patience, I’d feel distant and apathetic again.
While I’d like to tell you that this pattern disappeared as I aged and matured in my faith, it hasn’t changed much.
I still have seasons when I feel exceptionally close to God and seasons when my faith feels more like an abstract concept than a life and soul-transforming part of my daily life.
These seasons of stagnancy can lead us to feel like a lesser Christian. But it is often in these seasons when the emotions aren’t propelling us that we truly move into the work we need to do to build a faith that survives the storms of life.
These seasons of stagnancy can lead us to feel like a lesser Christian. But it is often in these seasons when the emotions aren’t propelling us that we truly move into the work we need to do to build a faith that survives the… Click To TweetWhen you doubt whether or not the work you’re doing to grow your spiritual life matters, that is when you need to dig deeper into tools God has given you.
1. Repent
Often times, seasons of stagnancy in my life cause me to become complacent with the little “white lie” level sins in my life that I’ve convinced myself hurt no one. But sin never hurts no one. Every little white lie, every moment of sloth, every unkind word, each uncharitable though is an action that Jesus bled and died for.
If I want to break out of feeling apathetic, I need to take my sin as seriously as Jesus does. I need to evaluate my heart and my actions and repent of anything not worthy of the high calling Christ has placed on my life.
2. Pray
When you are feeling lost in your faith, when your prayers feel memorized and heartless, don’t let the devil convince you that your prayers are meaningless.
Prayer changes your heart and it changes the world.
Whether you feel stagnant because of sin, life changes, or some combination of life busyness that you’re just not able to identify, prayer can change things.
If you’re having trouble coming up with a prayer, pray as Jesus taught us and say the Lord’s Prayer. Commit each day when you wake up and each night before bed to praying it aloud (because as strange as it may feel, praying aloud makes a difference).
3. Invest in Honest Relationships with Other Believers
While famines of the soul leave us feeling isolated, alone, and like we’ve failed as Christians, that is also a lie from the evil one. These seasons are common to most believers as some point, if not many points, in their Christian walk. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and to share our struggle, we open ourselves up to the encouragement of the greater Body of Christ that God has crafted for our benefit. We are not alone and those who walk this path solo do win a special badge, they ignore the gifts and tools God has given them in their local church body.
4. Fast
Pull yourself away from this world and focus on the world to come. Fasting is one of the tools of our faith that Jesus lists in Matthew 6 along with prayer and giving to the poor, as an assumed part of Christian life.
I think that it is important to fast from food regularly. It is one of the most tangible ways we are connected to this world and rely on something other than God for our sustenance.
5. Read Your Bible
Getting over my discomfort of fear that it will be “unproductive” and spending time in the Word of God is one of the things He has promised us will aid those who hear it.
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11, ESV
During rough seasons, I spent my time in the Psalms. Other times, I focus on the life of Christ in the Gospels or read through the Old Testament accounts of how God sustained His people as they awaited the coming Messiah and carried themselves through the world broken by sin.
Even though it is hard, even if it feels pointless, time in God’s Word is never pointless. It will benefit you beyond the moments you spend reading it. Pick up your Bible, open to a book, and read through it a chapter a day.
Even though it is hard, even if it feels pointless, time in God’s Word is never pointless. It will benefit you beyond the moments you spend reading it. Click To Tweet
When your faith is hard, you need to focus on the habits that God has given you. Don’t wait for a breakthrough moment to get started, start with the tasks God has told us will strengthen our faith.
There are times when we will sprint through our faith and times when the journey will be faithfully taking small steps. But small steps are still meaningful steps. And they are still forward progress.
If you are in a spiritually stagnant stage, you are not alone.
Read the Psalms. Many times, the psalmists felt distant from their Maker.
But they still trusted. And they kept moving forward. And they were not abandoned by God.
You might also like:
Prayer: A Private Devotion (+A Free Prayer Journal)
Can I Stop Pretending to be a Good Person?
13 Ways To Be A Proverbs 31 Women Today
The Comments
kage2015
Fasting and prayer go hand in hand. This is something I have always done and find it brings me answers to my questions.
Bailey
kage2015They definitely do!
Ashley Leach
I started reading Proverbs and Psalms together. I struggle to read daily but have been trying to consistently read my Bible. Great list, you’ve given me a few additional ideas to get out of this stagnate period I currently am in.
Bailey
Ashley LeachPsalms are my go-to. They are so nourishing to the soul.
perfectingtruth101
Very helpful instruction you have shared. I think we all hit those stagnant patches, but it is a wonderful blessing to know what to do to get back on track. Thanks for sharing.
God bless you!
Bailey
perfectingtruth101I think it’s definitely something we all experience. It’s important to get back on track and focus on the things God has called us to.
Cynthia
I definitely needed this encouragement today. Thanks girl! Also, I love your website design, it’s stunning!
Bailey
CynthiaThank you so much, Cynthia!
Jordan
“When you are feeling lost in your faith, when your prayers feel memorized and heartless, don’t let the devil convince you that your prayers are meaningless.” This is so good! It’s so hard to be in a season of drought, especially when it follows a season of such intimacy. Thank you for bringing up this subject; it’s so good to make sure everyone knows this is a normal thing all Christians walk through. It’s hard when you feel isolated in your dryness.
Bailey
JordanIt is a normal thing and, I would venture to say, it’s when we develop sustaining faith. It’s easy to obey when we feel like it. When things are dry is when we really commit to obedience.
itscarlidarlin
Fasting and praying are the top two for me. Both are so hard, but they are the ones that really make me feel drawn in and connected to the Lord.
Bailey
itscarlidarlinSo hard, but so necessary.
Jasmine - LoveLifeLaughMotherhood
This is some great encouragement to end my day!
Bailey
Jasmine – LoveLifeLaughMotherhoodSo glad it encouraged you, Jasmine.
Yolanda
I needed to read this today. Sometimes I feel like I’m going through the motions of life and I’m disconnected to my faith. When this happens I feel guilt. Thanks for the recommendations on how to get back on track. So beautifully written 🙂
Bailey
YolandaDon’t feel guilty. “Going through the motions” is often a sign of obedience even when we don’t feel like it. It is hard, holy work.
Angelika
Nice post a
Bailey
AngelikaThank you!
Colleen Mitchell
This hits home for me. I’m in the middle of hand-copying the book of Acts, and just having my Bible on my desk makes it so much easier to open it up. By hand-copying, I’m rediscovering verses that I’d completely forgotten about, and picking up small details that get missed when I just read it instead.
Bailey
Colleen MitchellHand-copying can be so powerful!
Marya
Ugh, I’m right there. I think I need a social media detox. But I’m a blogger!
Bailey
MaryaI hear ya! Don’t be afraid to step away or set boundaries to make sure your faith comes first.
Kiersten
Prayer is the number one thing that I find helps me get out of rut. I noticed that if I don’t spent time in prayer first thing in the morning, my day usually isn’t as good. Prayer is powerful! Thanks for sharing.
Bailey
KierstenPrayer is so powerful!
April at Love
What an encouragement. I think many of us battle that feeling of stagnancy occasionally and your advice gives faithful and beautiful ways to help us reconnect with God.
Bailey
April at LoveI think it’s more common than we talk about. It’s so important that we are honest about this so that we can encourage one another.
hazl?
Hello there! I believe that every Christian goes through this kind of challenge. I, too, find myself turning into the Psalms when I’m feeling lost, or confused. And I think it’s okay, it means we are trying to pursue God continually.
Thank you for sharing with us your thoughts ?
Bailey
hazl?The Psalms are such an encouragement.
Amy @ Orison Orchards
I love that you tell it like it is — no beating around the bush. Repent, pray, relationships, fast and read your Bible. It’s a simple formula, and necessary to implement, though not easy. (whimper)
Bailey
Amy @ Orison OrchardsIt’s simple, but definitely takes dedication and hard work. God is faithful.
Mommy & Mia Homeschool Chronicles
This was so refreshing to read. Too many times we let ourselves get caught up with life that we neglect our spiritual life. Thank you for this reminder.
Bailey
Mommy & Mia Homeschool ChroniclesI’m so glad it was refreshing to you!
realworldbiblestudy
I once described this as having a spiritual cold…you know, your head is all fogged up and nothing seems to get through. All these things are good – and I would encourage anyone in that place that, like with a cold, it will pass. Our relationship with God is not actually about the emotional high, and when you choose to stay connected when you don’t “feel” connected, you will grow, in the same way that going through depression forced me to be intentional about both my spiritual and physical health.
I write in a prayer journal daily – not always the full prayer, sometimes I pray that out loud, but I have found that if I’m sleepy or discouraged or just having a hard time connecting or focusing, that writing my thoughts and prayers to God helped me to follow through and make the abstract concrete, something I could touch and feel.
Bailey
realworldbiblestudyA spiritual cold is a perfect way to describe it.
lifeloveandlittles
This was so good. I 100 percent agree with all of these ways to get out of that “spiritual” funk. I am recently coming out of one, and for me repentance and praying (even when I didn’t feel like it) were what got me out of it. I love your blog!
Bailey
lifeloveandlittlesIt’s so key! I’m glad to hear you’re coming out of your funk. I hope that these practices continue to help.
Courtney Kramer
I can totally relate to going through similar seasons. It’s helpful to be reminded of spiritual disciplines I need to keep working at.
Praise makes such a huge difference.
Cayla
Bailey, as always, your posts are so helpful and eye-opening. I can definitely work on fasting and reading my bible more. Thanks for being such a positive light and for spreading the gospel!
tadurias
To be honest, I am in a stagnant place. It’s been a very rough year, and I’ve been very discouraged. This was a post I needed to read. Consistency is key, I know this, both in prayer, reading the word and fasting, yet I always miss one or the other.
Tiff
Prayer and fasting are so essential to breaking out of stagnant phases in our walk with God. Worship is a big one for me too. Really connecting with God and feeling His presence makes it hard to not come out of the blah’s!
Meredith Kopal
I def need to spend more time reading my Bible and also repenting. I also think counting blessings that he has given us is a way to feel closer to him.
Jessica
Thank you so much for this. I needed this more than I even realized. Keep letting the Holy Spirit guide your writing. It has great purpose ?
Hope
Thank you SO much for this post! Every word was just what I needed? Blessings to you dear!
Gwen Leach
(I hit send in error- but this is my continuation) stagnant places, and have the same feelings as described by the many comments/replies I read. I was so broken with a heart of repentance; but also with a grateful heart of thanksgiving to God and to you for reminding me of God’s Promises to never leavee nor forsake me in the low or high times! I have preached God’s Words to so many for 30+ years, and yet today, I needed your posts desperately to be ministered to me. Oh I pray someone who is a Leader in God’s church will read this and know they are not alone & God has heard their cry and is encouraging them today! And that the parishioners will see thst only do they feel this way and go through these dry time, but that their Leaders do tooooo🙏🏽 Thank you Bailey and may God continue to grant you open doors to take His Gospel throughout the whole world🙏🏽
Pas. Gwen☺️😇