I see a troubling pattern coming out of comments from our global online tribe–NUMBNESS. It’s not really depression. It’s not really sadness. It’s not really hopelessness. It feels more like: “My faith walk is INACTIVE because I’m NUMB.”
I’ve been feeling a little of that lately myself. It’s hard to put a finger on it other than to say we all seem to be skating away on the thin ice of a new day. Sinking into the depths and not swimming toward the shore. Retreating to our cocoon instead of racing to God.
Here’s the end of this message at the start: Just keep going back to God’s Word and pray for the Holy Spirit to refill your spiritual tank.
I’m not a bit surprised by this trend. We are being bombed by FEAR and showered with shards of uncertainty. No wonder people are feeling numb and searching for relief in all the WRONG places. But that is not practical and it is not what God wants.
He wants us, in times like these, to hear his warning and embrace his promise.
THE WARNING
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Matthew 10:28
THE PROMISE
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
We have received God’s promise of life so we can live without fear and blow up our numbness. WHY? Because he has vanquished fear forever.
We need to run straight toward the challenge, not away from the numbness. We need to step outside of our self-focused cells. We need to venture into the town square bustling with people in pain to see how our faith might alleviate their discomfort.
There is no need to throw in the towel because of a little numbness. God has prepared us for days like these (Ephesians 2:10).
I ask God to give me strength in the face of fear and uncertainty–to trust him. To know that he understands my numbness. That he has a lesson for me in this that will make me better tomorrow than I am today.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What will you do if you start to feel spiritually numb?
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” Philippians 1:21–23
