I am a “stuffer.” When I clean the house, I tend to stuff things in drawers and closets.
Out of sight, out of mind. But stuff accumulates.
Recently, I decided to clean out the file drawer in my desk. I had only a fuzzy notion of what those tightly packed files might contain.
I found old health records, invoices from an attorney’s office, records of my grown kids’ achievements in school, and old employment contracts.
I even discovered a receipt for a fine I’d paid for a traffic ticket.
I didn’t need to keep those things. They occupied space that could’ve held more useful content.
The same can be true for our spiritual lives. Sometimes we hold onto things in our lives that hinder our spiritual growth and bog us down in our faith journey.
Things to Forget to Overcome a Spiritual Slump
When we find ourselves in a spiritual slump, we may struggle to determine how to get out of it.
Here are three things we can forget so we are freed to move forward and overcome a spiritual slump.
1 – Guilty Feelings Over Past Mistakes
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
God told His people to forget the former things. He allowed His people to be taken into captivity, but promised to restore them.
God would do something new and instructed His people to look forward to what He would accomplish.
We don’t find joy by regretting things we can’t change.
Dwelling on the past profits us little. Anguishing over past mistakes prevents us from moving forward in faith.
2 – Bitterness and Grief Over Past Hurts
“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” – John 16:20-22 NIV
Rehashing old hurts is like trying to cuddle a porcupine. Each time we review former insults and embrace past betrayals, we stab ourselves in the heart.
We cheat ourselves of the joy Jesus brings us.
On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He warned His disciples they would experience grief. But when He returned, they would forget their grief and be filled with joy.
Don’t focus on past griefs. Instead, exchange yesterday’s sorrow for today’s joy.
3 – Self-Satisfaction in Past Achievements
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 NIV
Though the Apostle Paul had many reasons to brag, he never thought he had reached perfection.
No good comes from yearning for yesterday’s accomplishments.
Instead of living in the past, we should move toward what God has in store for us next.
Things to Remember to Foster Spiritual Growth
As we forget those things which weigh us down in our faith, we now turn to what we should remember about our faithful God to foster spiritual growth.
God’s Word admonishes us to remember. Here are three truths to remember about the Lord’s faithfulness in our lives.
1 – God Has Provided for Us
“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” – Psalm 105:5 NIV
The Israelites saw great signs and wonders, like the Red Sea parting and manna in the wilderness.
Time and again, God delivered His people.
And if we’re observant, we’ll notice everyday miracles and mighty acts of deliverance in our lives, too.
2 – Keep God’s Commandments
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” – Psalm 103:17-18 NIV
We demonstrate our love for the Lord by keeping His commands (1 Jn 5:3).
Following the ways of God doesn’t weigh us down, but enables us to walk in freedom (Ps 119:45).
In God’s kindness, we benefit from keeping His commands.
As we lean into following the Lord, may we recognize the beauty and power of obedience to His Word.
3 – Learn From the Past
“Remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger of the Lord your God in the wilderness.” Deuteronomy 9:7a NIV
In Deuteronomy 9 and 10, Moses reminded the Israelites of what happened when they disobeyed God in the wilderness. Moses exhorted the people to keep God’s commandments for their own good.
We shouldn’t beat ourselves up because we failed in the past.
However, we should learn from our mistakes so we don’t repeat them.
Vanquishing a Spiritual Slump
As I cleaned out my desk, I tossed out the old but kept what was valuable. I watched those documents from my past become shreds of confetti.
Friends, let’s not look longingly or regretfully at the past and stay stuck in a spiritual slump.
Instead, let’s remember the mighty things God has done for us and the lessons we’ve learned from Him along the way.
Let’s declutter our minds and get rid of whatever prevents our spiritual progress so we can move forward in faith.
Margaret Kemp
Margaret Kemp is a writer and teacher who’s spent many years in a classroom full of lively 5- and 6-year-olds. A Louisiana native, she loves traveling, singing, and spending quality time with family. Her heart’s desire is to lead others to know God better and find delight in Him. Connect with her at The Delighting Heart and on Instagram.
