What do you do when you run out of steam?

Dear Friends,

There’s not a preacher alive that has not gone through periods of dryness. Further, there is not one that does not dread such times. The heaven above seems to turn to brass. God seems nowhere around. Sunday is coming. It’s Saturday night. The urge to pull an old sermon out of the file is irresistible. So, come Sunday the congregation gets leftovers. No one enjoys tepid stale old leftovers. Yet, until the spiritual impulse returns the folks in the pew must put up with canned sermons, rituals are substituted for a real move of the Spirit, and, furthermore, the undernourished are left to famish. Need I remind you that this is a common occurrence? It’s human nature to go through periods of uncertainty. Spiritual doldrums are common to us all. It is at times like these, however, that we must remind ourselves that, as Paul reminds us, “we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).”

What is this faith that we must live by? The quick answer is it is sound doctrine. True. But head knowledge that never reaches the heart is most often where the dryness comes in. Wesley faced such periods. He writes in his journal on Saturday, March 4. 1735—

I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved.

Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.” I asked, “But what can I preach?” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then because you have it, you will preach faith.”

Perseverance was the answer then and it is now as well.

This goes for any relationship. Marriage is no exception. I don’t think the human body could tolerate or sustain the gushy feeling that one felt when they first fell head over heels in love with their spouse. That comes and goes. Further, it cannot be depended on to sustain any marriage, or for that matter any relationship. A resolute commitment can, however, get us through the tough spots in any relationship, even with God.

Keep in mind that faith is a fact, not a feeling.

Stay Safe, and remember God loves you and so do I,

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/