The Return
[this post is mostly reproduced from something I listened to]
We all have periods of life when our joy has vanished and our hearts are heavy. We bemoan our current circumstances as we remember times when things were lighter and our spirits were lifted. Our focus turns inward, and we can quickly spiral to a dark place where we can’t see the point of it all and assume that God is either disinterested or out to make our lives miserable. When we find ourselves in this state, the worst thing we can do is sit still. The last thing we feel like doing is moving, but it’s critical that we lift up our eyes and get going.
“Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3)
In those moments, we ask ourselves — where do we go? The scripture above says in those moments, we should return to God. We might argue that we haven’t gone anywhere, but it is worth at least asking ourselves, “Is there something I was doing spiritually when things felt better that I have stopped doing now?” A common response to discouragement and desolation is to stop doing the spiritual disciplines that we have previously done. The logic is that we aren’t seeming to get anything out of them, so why bother? Crisis hits and all too often we start praying less. We stop going to Bible study because we don’t feel like it and doubt it will fix anything. The next thing we know, we’re watching more Netflix than before, eating garbage, and feeling sorry for ourselves.
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Walking away in frustration when God isn’t answering our prayers as we’d like reveals something about the true motive for our relationship with Him. God is not a genie in a bottle or a cosmic personal assistant. He longs to be wanted for who He is, not just what He gives. We return to God for His presence more than His presents. When we are in a season in which relief is not being provided and God’s good gifts aren’t apparent, we have an opportunity to show what we truly love about Him.
We return to God when we recommit to the spiritual disciplines that keep us strong and connected to Him. We also return to God when we intentionally spend time with people who draw our focus to His goodness and provision. Do the right thing and ask God to take care of your emotions. Whether you feel like it or not, get moving, and move in God’s direction.
It is during times like this that we should be like the Apostle Paul and seek an experiential knowledge of God, not just an intellectual understanding of God.
Phil 3:10: I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
If you are in that phase of life where you want to experience and return to God, you can say this short prayer if you desire a personal and transformative relationship with God
Dear Lord,
May I return to You with all my heart. Help me to move my body into a posture of worship. May my feelings follow as I commit to obeying You. Amen.
