When you lose your joy...

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CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#1
Mar 20, 2013
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#1
Christianity isn't about feelings, warm fuzzies and such. It's a way of life. It is about our walk with our Lord - our fellowship with Him - our commitment to Him - our relationship with Him through our good times and bad...our "mountaintop" experiences and the valleys we go through. Having the joy of Christ through this is a wonderful thing.

The past few years have taught me to be dependent on God and to appreciate his blessings. Caretaking for my brother during his last couple of years taught me how precious life is, and that our every breath is a gift from God. My wife filing for divorce at a time when I was briefly between jobs taught me that God will provide.

I am ashamed to say that it was easier to love God when life was harder.

What does one do when you don't feel that close to God anymore, and prayer, reading his word, and fellowship with other believers doesn't really do anything?

Can this just be a season through which I remain faithful, trusting that God will change me?

I'll be honest. Right now...and for a while now, I just haven't been feeling it. I'm wondering if I really love the Lord or if I just like him a lot.

Is there anyone else who is in, or has been, in a spiritual funk?
 
clee356

clee356

Senior Member
#2
Apr 5, 2011
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I've also felt the same way for some time now. Currently trying to figure out how to get that joy and passion back.. I've learned the hard way that if you invest more time into someone/something other than God, that can cause the disconnect. And that's true, we tend to go to God more when something's wrong.. I need to stop that. Also, I was holding onto a sin and I wasn't bringing it to God and not repenting. That caused me to get into a funk as well.

Something I've been doing is to remember how I felt when I first was saved. And to remember how it felt when I really was on fire for Him. I believe there's such a thing as too much church- try to get back to just you and Him, and listen more rather than ask Him for things.

I don't know what you've been through/going through so I'm not trying to preach to you, I hope it doesn't come across like that.
 
CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#3
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
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#3
clee356 said:
I've also felt the same way for some time now. Currently trying to figure out how to get that joy and passion back.. I've learned the hard way that if you invest more time into someone/something other than God, that can cause the disconnect. And that's true, we tend to go to God more when something's wrong.. I need to stop that. Also, I was holding onto a sin and I wasn't bringing it to God and not repenting. That caused me to get into a funk as well.

Something I've been doing is to remember how I felt when I first was saved. And to remember how it felt when I really was on fire for Him. I believe there's such a thing as too much church- try to get back to just you and Him, and listen more rather than ask Him for things.

I don't know what you've been through/going through so I'm not trying to preach to you, I hope it doesn't come across like that.
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Nope. Not overly preachy at all - and you make a lot of sense. Particularly that one can do too much church. I have fallen into that trap in the past and have experienced burnout.

This caused me to tell God that I would never be in the music ministry again. Two weeks later, I found myself directing the church orchestra! LOL

I think part of this is that God may be steering me in a direction that I am afraid to go in. I've been somewhat complacent, but not really at peace. That make sense to anyone?

Writing this out seems to help. :)
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#4
#4
Yes I think it happens to all Christians at some time. I agree with clee356, we allow ourselves to be distracted and once we take our eyes off The Lord other things take our thoughts along with our joy away from Him. It is so easy to begin to push God into the background without even realising it and then one day you do realise it and that your joy has been missing. We really do have to take time out and find some quiet time to be alone with Him and I'm as guilty as the next person of failing to do this. Continuing in sin (yes we kid ourselves it isn't sin but if we feel conviction then it probably is) will inevitably find us void of any joy.

I believe I am also in a dip, not sure it's a valley yet but I'm not as joyous as I was for the first 2yrs after being saved. There is so much distracting me from Him right now but I'm working on getting it back!
 
S

sydlit

Guest
#5
#5
Wow can I relate. Still hope God puts the one in my life to have and to hold, knowing my contentment should be in Him alone, but still desire that human touch. Til then, joy is fleeting and I struggle to admit or maybe confess that I rarely find peace and joy when im alone, and rarely sense His presence. Sin? I guess, but im lonely. Maybe He is sparing me future heartache, but sometimes im willing to give up just for companionship now. Forgive me, Lord. Help me find my joy in you. I have salvation, forgiveness, mercy, eternal life, ... why am I so hardhearted and selfish that I want a mate, too? Call it a funk, dip, valley, ok, im in it, and I hate to admit it as I fear it paints God in a bad light, and He wont have that. Help me, Lord. I believe, help thou my unbelief.
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#6
#6
sydlit said:
Wow can I relate. Still hope God puts the one in my life to have and to hold, knowing my contentment should be in Him alone, but still desire that human touch. Til then, joy is fleeting and I struggle to admit or maybe confess that I rarely find peace and joy when im alone, and rarely sense His presence. Sin? I guess, but im lonely. Maybe He is sparing me future heartache, but sometimes im willing to give up just for companionship now. Forgive me, Lord. Help me find my joy in you. I have salvation, forgiveness, mercy, eternal life, ... why am I so hardhearted and selfish that I want a mate, too? Call it a funk, dip, valley, ok, im in it, and I hate to admit it as I fear it paints God in a bad light, and He wont have that. Help me, Lord. I believe, help thou my unbelief.
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It's not wrong to desire human companionship, it is only wrong if you put it before God and your relationship with Him. Talk to Him about your wants and needs, He knows how you are feeling anyway.
 
clee356

clee356

Senior Member
#7
Apr 5, 2011
341
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I always picture God watching us, amused, especially when we have meltdowns or tantrums. We must seem like 2 year olds to Him at times- wanting our own way, asking for goodies that aren't really goodies, wanting Him to make everything better. He could very well just make us do the right thing, but He doesn't. He desires for us to WANT to come to Him. It's not good to lose our passion/joy, but I find that for the most part, if we acknowledge it and work at it, our relationship with Him can get even deeper :)
 
seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
#8
May 23, 2009
14,943
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I've often wondered if, in some ways, human nature "needed" hard times to find much of any reason to seek God out at all, and if that's part of the reason why God allowed Adam and Eve to sin in the first place. Over and over in the Bible, the only reason people really sought God was because they were in a jam. (All of this is just a personal speculation, certainly nothing absolute.)

I also often wonder, before sin took place, what did Adam and Eve talk to God about during their daily walks in the garden of Eden? They weren't talking about how Jesus had died for their sins because at that point, it hadn't happened. And yet today, people who are seen as "true", "die-hard", "on-fire" Christians talk about little else.

Without the hardest of times, we wouldn't know that we have a God who was willing to take our place and die for us, which is something very different from the other religions the world has come up with.

I have to admit though, that this has put a bit of a damper on my own times when life is calmer--I'm always looking for that other shoe to drop because I figure I "need something in my life" to bring me "closer to God."

And isn't it funny how shoes (or boots, for gypsy) seem to drop several pairs at a time...
 
Olerica

Olerica

Banned
#9
Apr 15, 2014
2,050
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#9
I wonder too, like friendship with our human friends, there isn't a natural waxing and waning. I will go for an intense period with a friend where we're really getting to know each other, and then 'life' happens and we drift apart and miss them (a few days, work gets busy, etc) and then we reach out and connect with them. Even in marriage that happens to an extent.

That distance though, and how we deal with it can either drive or kill the relationship. We are hurt that the other person hasn't reached out, and withdraw further... or we reach out and find with joy we were missed too. IDK, God never is the one to need time away it seems, but it seems natural for humans to get close and then back away and process. God is pretty intense for us a lot of the time. Hanging out with Him requires obedience... you know? Not that he doesn't love us regardless.)
 
CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#10
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
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#10
Olerica said:
I wonder too, like friendship with our human friends, there isn't a natural waxing and waning. I will go for an intense period with a friend where we're really getting to know each other, and then 'life' happens and we drift apart and miss them (a few days, work gets busy, etc) and then we reach out and connect with them. Even in marriage that happens to an extent.

That distance though, and how we deal with it can either drive or kill the relationship. We are hurt that the other person hasn't reached out, and withdraw further... or we reach out and find with joy we were missed too. IDK, God never is the one to need time away it seems, but it seems natural for humans to get close and then back away and process. God is pretty intense for us a lot of the time. Hanging out with Him requires obedience... you know? Not that he doesn't love us regardless.)
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Good stuff - and you know, if you had used "irregardless," I would have taken you off my rather lengthy "crush" list. ;)

And happy belated birthday!
 
seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
#11
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,584
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#11
CatHerder said:
Good stuff - and you know, if you had used "irregardless," I would have taken you off my rather lengthy "crush" list. ;)

And happy belated birthday!
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*Seriously thinks about trolling each and every one of Catherder's posts from now on, irregardless of the consequences.*
 
CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#12
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
79
48
#12
seoulsearch said:
*Seriously thinks about trolling each and every one of Catherder's posts from now on, irregardless of the consequences.*
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KimHoney -


There is nothing you can do to take yourself off my "crush" list. :D
 
Olerica

Olerica

Banned
#13
Apr 15, 2014
2,050
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#13
CatHerder said:
Good stuff - and you know, if you had used "irregardless," I would have taken you off my rather lengthy "crush" list. ;)

And happy belated birthday!
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But... but.... but..... irregardless isn't a word, right? regardless would be without regard... how would you without-without regard something?

And thank you for the birthday wish. I'll keep you on my crush list too, I suppose. ;)
 
seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
#15
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,584
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#15
CatHerder said:
KimHoney -


There is nothing you can do to take yourself off my "crush" list. :D
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That's funny, because that one-too-many "KimHoney's" just took you off mine! :mad::p:rolleyes::cool:;)

(P.S. A friend's Dad always said, "If I can find a way to spell it, it's a word.")

That's the only dictionary I live by, irregardless of what others say. :) Ain't it the truth! :p
 
H

HereWithHope

Guest
#16
#16
This weird funk I'm in is actually what brought me to this sight today. Since my husband passed away just over a decade ago, I've been in this on again off again relationship with God that I am ashamed of. A lot of it I have had to work through, the anger I felt towards God because my husband was taken from me, but I can't seem to get where I want to be either. I'm just feeling kind of lost right now.
 
S

sydlit

Guest
#17
#17
Thanking God for you all right now, and Hope?... Aint it better to feel lost sometimes, even though youre not, rather than actually being lost and not knowing it? ( irregardless of my poor grammer, but thats a whole nuther topic)(eerie?guardless?)
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#18
#18
This mornings sermon covered this subject. Feelings mean nothing, God is with us throughout our journey through life. He will never leave or forsake us. Feelings to not come into it. The joy we receive upon accepting Christ into our lives does not and cannot last forever but He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit and He cannot leave us once He is in us. Hallelujah!
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#19
Aug 13, 2014
24,896
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#19
Looking back through the history of the kings of Israel... Hmm, some of them ignored God at all times. Some of them turned to God when things were going rough but did their own things when things looked good. Some of them started out with God but got caught up with life and slid away. But the really successful kings - the ones we hear preached about all the time, David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and the like - they were talking to God when things were going well. They didn't just talk to Him when they needed help.

Maybe they had a different reason for talking to Him.
 
Olerica

Olerica

Banned
#20
Apr 15, 2014
2,050
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#20
Reading this thread again, I note that I have heard SO MANY well established and strong Christians to express being in this space this week. Not over a period of time, but THIS WEEK. When the body seems to be going through a similar thing together, I wonder if God's doing something corporately. Know what I mean?

Just thinking out loud, I guess.
 
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