What To Do When You’ve Lost Your Passion - Joy Stevens
Ladies, I have some real questions for you;
Do you feel like you can’t get up in the morning and just want to stay in bed all day? Or you just want to call in sick and not face the realities of your day? Do you want to quit even though you know deep down you’ve been called to this? Do you ask yourself ‘If God has called me, why is it so hard’?
The truth is, when you’re feeling like this - you have lost your passion. You’ve lost your vision and sight of who you are and where your strength comes from. I’ve been there. Many times. Just being real… But I’ve also come out of it with a new found passion and resilience. A fight that doesn’t give up. There is hope and there is light. Here are a few keys I have found that have helped me and I hope they can help you too.
Three KEYS to grow your passion:
Intimacy with God
God has to be our source. He has to be where we get our energy, fight and vision from. He is the only constant throughout life. You wouldn’t yell at a vacuum cleaner for not turning on if it wasn’t plugged in - right? So why are you feeling guilty for not finding your source of energy from God. Plug in. Have time with the Father who is a river of life, ready to show you how to overcome in whatever area of life you’re struggling with. One of the verses that has helped me is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
“But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So, I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So, I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.”
We may be weak - yes. There are times where we are weak. That is a given. But when we are weak, it gives God the opportunity to show his strength. So, do not run away from God, run to him. As soon as you feel you can’t do this anymore, run to the father.
Rest
I find that when I have lost my passion I am not resting properly. When I am tired and feeling down, I have a tendency to turn to things that will provide temporary relief. Things like binging Netflix or watching hours of YouTube. You know how it is after a long day at work and all you want to do is just chill in front of the TV. These things aren’t wrong, they do help us unwind, but they are a form of temporary relief and don’t help restore our passion. Passion is restored when we find true rest.
Are you spending time with Jesus before bed or scrolling through Instagram? On your day off do you have a sabbath where you prioritise God or do you only focus on the things that need to get done?
Rest isn’t about getting more sleep (that is a good thing by the way), it's about prioritising things that fill you up, like spending time with God, reading The Word or worshipping Him.
Community and Connection
You know that friend that you avoid when you're sad because you know they are just going to throw you a pity party? The one that makes you feel even more depressed after the conversation? Yeah, we all have them and yes, they are draining your passion. When you’re in the place where you have lost your passion, you need to be around people that shift your perspective on the situation to bring light and direction to your life. Don’t be around people that enable you to be in that place. Instead, bring people that breathe life into your life. Be vulnerable and real with people that can help speak life into you. Passion cannot be sustained without good godly relationships and it can definitely be lost without them. The bible puts it so clearly:
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Big Sister Moment
We live in a generation where if we don’t feel like it, we don’t do it. Or if we don’t feel it to be true then it must not be. Jesus didn’t want to take the cross for humanity, but for the sake of the love He had for you and me, He did it. He asked God for a way out, a different way. In the end, He said ‘not my will but Yours’.
Even when you don’t feel it, there is a purpose on your life that is more than just the task set before you. There are people that God wants to affect through you. So, look up. Get your strength from God. Pick up your cross. Because there is something eternally important on the other side of your yes.
Written by Joy Stevens
Joy is married to Josh and she is on team at Kingdomcity in Perth.