"I don’t think anything has changed. I feel like a total failure. I must not be a good Christian.”
There are many people who feel a disconnect with the so-called spiritual life. I’ve known and loved people for most of my life who don’t understand the ‘insider language’ of the Church or Christianity. My own friends and family have been skeptical of my commitment to Christ and have shared they don’t understand what I do. I remember my dad telling me that I needed to get a real job. Over the years, I think my dad finally accepted that I did have a real job. I honestly look for opportunities to have conversations with people who don’t ‘get it.’ I find it refreshing when someone can be vulnerable enough to be honest and say they don’t feel connected to Christ. Often, people believe there is something wrong with them or they’re not worthy in some way. The spiritual life can be exhilarating and exciting but it can also be frustrating and disappointing.
What was so attractive about Jesus?
The answer to this question can sometimes reveal what we really think and what we desire from our relationship with Jesus Christ. What do you immediately think of when you think of Jesus—was it his power, compassion, teaching, leadership, healing, miracles or resurrection? That initial attraction can reveal the point where you enter into the reality of Jesus in your own life. But, that initial invitation is the beginning of understanding who Jesus is and it won’t satisfy you for long. There are other ways to explore and learn about Jesus. Once you become aware that your desire for more can help you discover new insights about Jesus, I think you’ll also learn something new about yourself. Don’t be fooled…many people are challenged with what it means to have a ‘relationship with Christ.’ There can be a very wide gap between knowing Jesus as a historical character and knowing Jesus personally enough to have a relevant relationship with him.
So, what are some ways that can help explore and evaluate the broader questions about the spiritual life?
There are activities that you can do to cultivate a vital, effective and mature faith in Christ. These activities can help develop your own spiritual depth and growth. Remember this important fact—like the other relationships of value in your life-- we’re not looking for quick fixes or easy steps to becoming mature. The relationship with Jesus will be continually transforming until the day we see Jesus in the face. I’ll offer some tools here that can guide you and that can bring about the blessing of God in our lives.
1. Evaluate Your Season Of Life: Evaluating or knowing your season of life can lead to particular practices that help to listen, ask and receive from God. What do you need in this season of life? It’s often the seeking, asking and longing, that can draw and pull us into a deeper spiritual life and experience Christ’s presence.
2. Be Self Aware: Be honest with yourself. What daily patterns do you see in your life? Are you a morning person or a night owl? Making space for focused time with God may work better in the early hours or in the quiet of midnight. Don’t try to develop spiritual patterns when you’re tired or just not into it. There is nothing worse than ‘going through the motions’ in any relationship. Work with the natural rhythms of your life and personality to find what works for you and be honest about your weaknesses and areas in need of change.
3. Notice Which Environments Lead You To A Deeper Awareness of God’s Presence: What are the environments that help you feel close to God? Examples could be the city, nature, solitude, art, cooking, work (the ordinary life), sacred spaces like personal retreats, worship, studying the word, small group, community action, sunsets, etc. Pay attention and visit those places as often as you can.
4. Show Up to Community: Who are the people who support, challenge and encourage you in your spiritual life? Who do you pray and meet with on a regular basis that you can be transparent with? Who do you support, challenge and encourage? Who do you learn from? Immerse yourself in the exchange—the giving and receiving-- of ministry with other people. Challenge yourself to make commitments to be in relationships with people in your community and show up. Showing up is half the battle! Don’t be that person who makes promises and never follows through.
5. Make Time For Reflection: Reflection continually connects our hearts and minds to Jesus. It’s a natural way we can engage with him by reflecting on our day or season. It is tempting to skip through our lives like a stone skipping across a pond and never truly getting any deeper. Are you living inattentively to the things that Jesus is doing in our daily life? Where in your life have you noticed a closeness to Jesus or a distance from Him? Let Him speak to you about those places, situations or circumstances. Reflection helps us see patterns or rhythms. Some people make it a daily, weekly or monthly practice of reflection in their life. Even 10 minutes of reflection can help set a habit of focusing your heart and mind on God.
6. Write It Down and work it out: Jot it down. Draw it out. Paint it. Say it out loud. Work it out in something tangible like wood, a garden or metal. Make it a habit to document the ways Jesus is present in your life. Write it down so that when you are in a dark time or experiencing pain or hopelessness, you can go back and see God’s faithfulness in our life. Notice what you created with your own hands as you worked out your salvation or created something as you developed your relationship with Him. It’s a rhythm of hope that keeps on giving!
Here’s another thing to be aware of—Jesus may be leading you toward a more faithful relationship. He may be the one who wants more from you and won’t settle for less. You may have disconnected with Him because He challenged you or you were challenged or shamed into thinking your relationship with Him wasn’t real or important. I assure you, Jesus is real. He’s more real than the present life we lead here. Jesus Christ is the gateway into the robust spiritual life and awareness that eternity is no joke. There is so much more for us to do and to explore. Don’t be fooled or confused about the spiritual life. It’s not only your soul that is on the line….consider all the people who you know that do not know Jesus.
Eternity is a long time to consider why someone you knew or even loved didn’t share the salvation story with you and invite you into the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ and his eternal kingdom.
Pastor Jen
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 ESV