2
0
Here we are near the end of October. Softball has come to a close for me – season over, uniforms turned in, banquet held, everything done. No more practices or games every day after school. Every year this happens, and every year I get a little sad. Going home in the afternoon, and not out to the ball field, is a bit of an adjustment.
However, this year was different. Other things seem to surround me at the same time softball ended, and before I knew what hit me, I was in a complete funk. It seemed as though I was walking around in a haze. I have been like this before, and every time it happens, I seem to run from God, rather than reach out for God.
It certainly happened this time. I’d wake in the morning and know I should get my butt out of bed and do a devotional and spend some time in prayer, but instead, I’d hit snooze four times until I had to go or I’d be late for work. I’d tell myself, “Oh, I’ll read some scripture during lunch and pray in the car on the drive home.” Instead, I would listen to a House of the Dragon podcast at lunch, and turn on the radio on the way home. I worked myself into a compete spiritual slump.
Not only had I worked myself into this slump, but I was doing everything to keep myself there. I wasn’t happy. I knew what I should be doing, but I was doing the exact opposite. I guess Paul knew what he was talking about in Romans 7:15 when he said, “I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
Paul sums up much of what was happening with me. But luckily for me, God hadn’t left. He was offering up every opportunity for me to walk alongside Him, even if I kept running in the opposite direction.
My wife knew something was up, as suddenly we began to argue more. My kids knew something was up, as Dad was more irritable. I’m sure my students recognized the same thing, wondering why I was in a bad mood. This slump was affecting every part of my life.
It wasn’t until I sat down with a friend and things in the conversation turned spiritual, that my own circumstances started to change. This friend assured me I was not alone. He had gone through similar things in his life and was here for me. He reminded me that God did not intend for us to do the Christian walk alone. When we see apostles in the Bible, they’ve always got buddies with them. They’ve got others to lean on; others to hold them accountable. He then reminded me of Moses.
There’s a story in Exodus where as long as Moses held up the staff of God, the Israelite army was winning the battle. Problem was, Moses’ arms got tired and consequently, the staff began to drop. That is when his brother and his friend came alongside and held his arms up for him so the staff would not drop.
Wow. This small story my friend reminded me of hit me right between the eyes. There are times our arms get tired, or we go in a slump, but God has intended for us to have those people in our lives to hold up our arms, to be our coach that gets us out of the slump.
Patrick was that for me. As we continued to talk, he told me to just do something small to get back on track. Just pray on the way to school, even if you don’t want to. His advice was to ask God to help me get my focus back where it belonged and to trust that He would.
As I took his advice, I realized that God has sent so many others to help me “hold up my arms.” People in my own family, friends I see every day, and some that aren’t even in this state but are there to help me if needed; I just have to let them.
In Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, finds his friend Faithful, and it changes his journey. He has someone to turn to when challenges and temptations arise, and Faithful helps him through those challenging times. It turns his walk from a plodding along, to a much more joyous journey.
I mean, even in secular life, culture knows it is not wise to try and go it alone. We teach our kids the buddy system at a very young age because there is always more danger when you go off by yourself. The Christian walk is no different. When Satan sees we are going it alone, he will always try and trip us up.
My slump is not completely over, but it is improving. I know that walking with God is not going it alone and burying my head in the sand. Rather, it is sharing in that journey with those around me. Those that God has put on my path to help me in my journey. Their names may be Pam, Josh, Patrick, Matt, Doug, and countless others, but they are faithful to help me along the way, as I am them.
Luckily for me, God never walks away. When it comes to slumps, He is the greatest hitting coach ever. He always has the answers to get you out of the slump; you just have be willing to do the work. And what’s even better, He sends assistant coaches to help you practice. Until next time…
