Many Christians may get stuck and can't move forward in their faith and spiritual growth. It seems that God's love fades away and they lose zeal in reading the Bible or listening to sermons, even hardly pray, while no reason can be found.
Why can't our faith journey move forward at a certain stage? What should we do to get out of this low ebb? The wheels of the spiritual life cannot move on as if they are stuck in a depression on the road. It makes people anxious and disappointed.
Rev. Zhang from Henan shares that it's an inevitable phenomenon that there are ups and downs in the faith journey. "A Christian's life resembles a parabola that has peaks and bottoms." Being spiritually stagnant shows that you become weak and the reasons that cause weakness are diversified, including issues about families, societies or marriage. Causes vary according to situations.
First of all, understand that we, normal people, have ups and downs in our lives though we want to keep our spiritual fervor during the lifetime. Then keep positive. Never be afraid when you are stuck or weak. Try to walk out.
Citing Revelations 3:15-16, Rev. Zhang claims that Christians shall not use their weakness as an excuse to laziness in devotional lives or run away from God. Moreover, he shares two points to deal with spiritual stagnation:
1. Pursue and restore the relationship with God more and attend church services actively. You will get better soon. Take Rev. Zhang as an example, "I'm often in this state during the three decades but I grow after going back to normal... This is a process Christians have to go through. There is absolutely no lasting peak or weakness (during the faith journey). Don't be discouraged when you has a valley, for the Lord is with us."
Pray when it's hard to do. Attend services when you are unwilling to do. Make a breakthrough when you claim you don't feel like it.If you don't feel like reading the Bible, pray first then go to read. You will recover soon.
2. The quicker way to recovery lies in communication with God's servants, compared with attending services, reading the Bible or prayer. Ask pastors or preachers for help when you encounter faith problems. If a member who knows your situation drags you to study the Bible or pray with him or her, it will be faster for you to get well.
He adds that avoid being alone when you feel weakness. Go to church, study and share with others, then you will regain your faith faster. Though you can get well by yourself, it takes a long time.
You get the result with half the effort with the help of a pastor. "This is also my experience." Concludes the pastor.
