Biblical Success - Pushing Through the "Blahs" Sample

In relating to life as Christ followers running in the race that is “Set before us” in Hebrews 12:1, and the practices and experiences of those who run physical races, we find another analogous relationship. These are the times that the very training that we need to do to improve just becomes boring and difficult, dry and dusty as opposed to invigorating and motivating. 

The very disciplines that only yesterday were the reason we put our feet on the floor become a drag, just sort of blah, and we no longer have joy in them that we once felt. This happens to physical runners who seek to perform at the highest levels and to runners just starting to train, and to all of us in our spiritual disciplines as well. One day we wake up and don’t look forward to making the effort. 

The good news is when it happens we are not weird, and it's not all over for us. Being dry and dusty are not unforgivable sins. We are after all human, and for us exceptional results, be they in athletics, academics, or in our faith walk, have times and seasons of ups and downs, highs and lows, for all who start the journey to improvement. Every great runner has them and every great Christ follower as well. You will find examples in the biography of every hero or heroine of our faith, from the apostle Paul to Amy Carmichael to Hudson Taylor to Mother Teresa, and if we’re honest, to you and me.

It isn’t a question of whether we will have these seasons; we all will. It is what do we do when we have them. Often our response to “the blahs” determines our success or failure to achieve all we wanted to do and set our minds towards when we set out. Dry seasons and doubt, discouragements and disappointments, are unavoidable distractions and downers that come to all of us. Author of the great book “Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth”  - Thaddeus J. Williams, calls them the “Damnable Ds!" I like that. You may be in a “down" time right now or enjoying a mountain top season. Both will pass. That’s life. If you are on the mountain top - enjoy it while it lasts, savor the good times and count your blessings. If you are feeling the blahs, press on and stay tuned, we’ll have some good news for you. So, where are you and what are your thoughts as we dip into The Word and discuss together? Dry or Delighted, we press on!