When Scotty McCreery released his summer theme song “Feelin’ It,” I was instantly hooked. Probably because deep down I’ll always be a beach-loving, flip-flop Florida girl at heart. But whereas I might always be feelin’ a beach day, sometimes I’m just not feelin’ it spiritually. And often, my lack of feelin’ it comes at odd times, like when it would seem that I would feel the closest to Him.
Isn’t it strange how a spiritual mountaintop can often feel more like a steep cliff whose edge you got too close to?
I always want to linger on the mountain. Throw my arms out and go all Julie Andrews from the Sound of Music. But inevitably my raised arms start to flail and I plunge from the mountain to the valley below.
I want to bask and rejoice in God’s goodness, but find myself worrying and fretting about what’s next. I want to linger over His word, but scurry of to the next to-do. I want to keep the momentum going, but find myself hiding under my covers.
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15
The enemy’s taunts drown out truth’s whisper and I am down. Looking up at the mountain that now seems so far away.
So what changed?
Not God. Never God. He’s the same always.
Did I take my eyes off of Him? Did I get so wrapped up in the feelings of being on the mountain that I let my guard down? Does being on a mountain just make you a easy target?
I imagine the answer is yes to all of the above.
So what is the answer when we’re just not feelin’ it, spiritually?
Give up? Give in? Stop? Try again tomorrow? Pull the covers up a little higher? (that last one is my personal strategy of choice!)
No!
- We say out loud that my faith is not a feeling! (Repeating as many times as necessary)
- We pray – confessing our lack of feelin’ it and praising God that our faith is not our feelings. Faith is trust. Faith is belief. Faith is being sure of what we can’t see or feel. Faith is about who Jesus is – it’s not about me.
- We reflect on the Who of Jesus – making a list, reviewing it out loud.
- And then we get out God’s Word and we read it. Even if it’s just a verse or two. We claim truth. We stand on truth (even if we stand in the valley with arms sore from flailing).
Today, I’m just not feelin’ it. But I know it’s ok, because my faith is not based on my feelings, but on my constant Savior.
Much love,
Jen
