Every year about this time I hit a blah season. Whether it is blah faith, blah passion, blah life, this time of year can often be painted in the color vanilla for me. There are a number of reasons I experience the blahs every summer so this year I’m preparing ahead of time to ward off the blah and let the LORD keep the fire of passion in my heart.
One of my most effective ways of keeping blah out of my faith is to push through the feelings of “I just don’t wanna” in regards to studying my Bible. When I realized the “I don’t wanna” is a symptom of blah, this gives me all the more motivation to just show up ready and willing with my Bible and allow God to speak to me. I know he has to be frustrated with my blah heart, but I also know that He blesses us when we just show up regardless of our “want to.” So this season I’m soaking in the Psalms regularly. You are more than welcome to join me on my Facebook Page-LIVE IT OUT! every Thursday for Soaking in the Psalms.
I soaked in Psalm 13 this morning and I’m struck the doldrums of faith that David often finds himself in when writing these songs of his heart to God. He says in verse 1:
How long O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
This is not a theological statement claiming that God actually forgets His people. This phrase simplly shows the desperation of David and gives us permission to question desperately… HOW LONG O LORD???
But, we can only get away with this for so long — we can’t wallow in our misery for what good does that really do us? David gives us and example of one who hosts his own pity party and then lets God pick him up by the boot straps and smacks him upside the head for motivation to SNAP OUT OF IT!
He finishes off the Psalm with the last two verses as a 180 degree turnaround. I almost get whiplash reading the sharp turn from pity party to thanksgiving feast.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me. {Psalm 13:5-6 ESV}
Cure for Blah — if you feel the doldrums coming on, take a moment for lament, but not too long of a moment! We won’t be pulled out of blah if we choose to linger in our pity party. Take a moment to list off how God has dealt bountifully with you.
This might not be an instant fix for your blah as it is a thought process that must be dealt with daily. But, a thankful heart has no room for whining and complaining. A thankful heart is a fire place to hold a flame of faith eagerly sparked by the Holy Spirit.
Go ahead right now and list what you are thankful for. Rewrite that list every day until your lame of passionate faith burns away the duldrums of blah. Tell me the very first thing that comes to mind in which you are thankful for…
Go ahead…leave a comment! :)
This is probably so cheesy (in a…if i had 3 wishes, i would wish for more wishes.. kind of way) but seriously, at this very moment, I am most thankful for God’s timing & the way He uses people for His purpose! I have been whining like crazy alllllllllllll morning. Work, friends, family junk.. it’s just one of those days, but this totally shook me up. God totally used you to reach my ugly heart this morning..and to let me know that times up for my little pity party! Moving on to grateful now :)
Hello Sarah!
Its definately something that you don’t want to wollow in, the blah, that is. Once you start thinking about it, your giving attention to it, ultimately feeding and fueling it. It becomes a cycle. You have to acknoweldge it, and recognize it, than make the CHOICE to turn your thoughts elsewhere.
I loved the idea of instantly choose to think of something positive-start writing down things you are thankful for. I think having a grattitude journal is super helpful and helps us to keep our eyes focused on where they should be.
I like what you said about making a choice to turn around our thoughts right off the bat. Thanks for sharing that!
Oops-adding: Thankful for warm weather, doors/opportunities opening, and ice cold coffee this am. :)
GREAT THINGS to be thankful for, Kristen!