Is it just me or is living a Christian life like riding a wicked roller coaster?  Some days I feel close to the Lord, like I’m at peace with everything and completely unstoppable.  Other days I feel distant from Him, like my life’s a mess, and as though everything I stand for is hanging by a thread.  C.S. Lewis called this crazy cycle the Law of Undulation.  I don’t know what to call it, but I do know that I despise the times when I feel distant from the Lord.  I almost feel helpless.  I’ll wake up in the morning and right of the bat I know I’m not as “in tune” as I should be.  I recognize this immediately and try to pray for help, but before I know it my mind has wondered to what I’m having for lunch or something.  Aarrrgggg…this is so frustrating!  I think all Christians can relate to this in some way.  So what can we do when our walk with the Lord feels more like a lone trip into the wilderness?

Here are 5 Prescriptions for Curing the Spiritual Doldrums:

1.  Give Yourself a Spiritual Check-up.

Let’s stick with the medical theme for a second.  Next time you’re down, maybe you should play doctor:

Dr:       “Ok Mr. Hughes what brings you in today?”

Me:      “Well doc, I just…just don’t feel as close to the Lord as I know I should.  I bought some Pray-Quil from the pharmacy yesterday and it didn’t even touch it.  I’m just really tired of feeling this way.”

Dr:       “Alright, that’s a common problem for people like you.  I saw a lady just yesterday for the same exact thing.  Let’s go ahead and check your spiritual vitals before we do a more thorough assessment.”

Me:      “Sounds good.”

Dr:       “Well your spiritual pulse is kind of weak.  Have you been reading your scriptures daily?”

Me:      “Uhhhh….no.  I’ve been really busy.”

Dr:       “And your respiratory system sounds awful.  Have you been praying regularly?”

Me:      “……I guess I haven’t.”

Dr:       “Your blood pressure is through the roof!  How’s your media diet? We talked about lowering your inappropriate TV, movies, and music during your last visit.  How’s that been going?”

Me:      “Not so good, I guess.  I was doing good for a while, but looks like I really need to do better.”

Dr:       “I’d definitely say so.  Well Mr. Hughes, there’s no need for further assessment.  It’s pretty clear what’s causing the symptoms you’re experiencing and there’s no need for any invasive treatments.  I’m writing you a prescription here for “Christian Common Sense”.  You can have it filled right around the corner.  Work on the things we’ve discussed and come back and see me in two weeks.”

Let me just say that the majority of the time this prescription works for me.  I seem to always justify not

doing the basics, but then I’m somehow shocked when things “mysteriously” start to go south.

2.  The Spontaneous Fast.

Most of the time when I’m having a “downer” it’s because in some way, my carnal nature has gotten the best of me.  I’m in a greedy, selfish, or prideful mindset that results from putting my will before the Lord’s.  It’s been my experience that there is no quicker way to align our will with the Lord’s than a heartfelt fast. By doing so we make a conscious decision to literally starve the natural man inside us to death…or at least put him to sleep for a while.  Every time I have done this I have been blessed, and the most effective times have been when it’s a spontaneous decision.  I’ll be riding down the road, sick and tired of feeling distant from the Lord, and decide to start fasting then and there.  If you decide to do this, and your fast is sincere and prayerful, it’s my testimony that you will immediately begin to feel closer to the Lord. The best word I can think of to describe this is ‘liberating’.

3.  Find Someone to Serve.

The bible verse that most influences my life is Matthew 25:40.  Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me.” Through serving others we literally serve Jesus. I have written about some awesome experiences I’ve had on this subject, and this paradigm has changed the way I see the world.  When we serve others we make a conscious decision to make someone else more important than ourselves.  It’s another way to get the natural man to ‘tap-out’ (to speak in UFC terms).  Here’s a question:  What happened to your problems the last time you went out of your way to help another person?  It’s funny, our problems seem to either disappear or seem less dramatic while serving someone. This is especially the case when we are experiencing the spiritual doldrums.  Try this exercise:  Next time you see someone who could use a helping hand, whether it’s unloading groceries at the store or just in need of a smile and a kind word, replace their face with that of Jesus, and see how one small act of service can fill you with joy.

4.  Talk to Someone.

I remember in elementary school I used to have a bathroom buddy.  Any time one of us had to ‘go’, we had to ‘go’ together.  I think all Christians need a spiritual buddy. Someone we can share our deepest feelings with about living a Christian life….the ups and the downs.  This could be your spouse if you’re married, best friend, or even your church leader.  Nothing could ever replace expressing our most intimate feelings with the Lord through prayer, but I have found that when I’m down, a conversation with a ‘spiritual buddy’ makes all the difference in the world.

5.  Be IN LOVE with Jesus.

What’s the difference between loving someone and being in-love with them?  I have eternal love for my wonderful wife, but I find that the degree to which I’m in-love with her fluctuates on a daily basis.   The same is true with my relationship with the Lord.  I believe the difference is a matter of focus.  When we are in love with someone our focus is on satisfying their every desire.  Next time your down, pause for a moment to think about what desires the Lord may have of you.  He’s told us point-blank some of the things he wants, so maybe we could give these a try:

• Serve Him.  We’ve already discussed Matthew 25:40 and its powerful effects.
• Obey Him.  In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
• Believe Him.  In John 14:6 He stated, “I am the way the truth and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.”  He atoned for our sins.  We can show our love for Him by utilizing the power of His atonement in our lives.
• Share Him.  In John 21:16 Jesus said, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?…He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

It’s my testimony that there is nothing we can do that will make the Lord love us more.  His love is unconditional and that knowledge has brought me such solace during difficult times.  Unfortunately, it’s our own thoughts and actions that place limitations on the amount of Love we can receive from Him.  Spiritual doldrums are frankly just a symptom resulting from our decisions to place more emphasis on our will than His.  These 5 prescriptions are simply different ways of bringing our will in alignment with the Lords so we can feel a greater measure of His love.  Next time you’re down in the dumps give them a shot; I’d love to hear about it.

What techniques have you found that have helped you cope with the “spiritual doldrums”?

Have you ever tried any of these suggestions and found them helpful?

Jason Hughes is a blogging youth pastor. Check out his stuff at www.figliving.com