Hitting a Spiritual Wall and Breaking Through

posted Nov 2, 2008, 6:48 PM by Website Administrator [ updated Jan 9, 2014, 5:17 PM ]

1 Samuel 30:6b
November 2, 2008

Dear Friends -

Hitting a spiritual wall takes on many forms … for some, it’s as simple as neglecting to spend time with God and in His Word on a daily basis. For many, though, it consists of lives that are wracked with fear, guilt, depression, and anger. So today, let me ask you: has the discipline of God, the distress that God has brought into your life because of sin or spiritual neglect, made you more obedient or less obedient to him? Are you more submissive to his will or less submissive? Has stress made you bitter towards God, or better in serving him? Are you more likely to run with him in agreement or from him in disobedience? The following statement may seem like a bitter pill, but it’s actually a better pill … the only reason God allows His children to despair is so we can learn not to trust in ourselves, but in Him alone. That’s it…

Your Brother in the Journey -
Mark

Hitting a spiritual wall takes on many forms … for some, it’s as simple as neglecting to spend time with God and in His Word on a daily basis. For many, though, it consists of lives that are wracked with fear, guilt, depression, and anger. So today, let me ask you: has the discipline of God, the distress that God has brought into your life because of sin or spiritual neglect, made you more obedient or less obedient to him? Are you more submissive to his will or less submissive? Has stress made you bitter towards God, or better in serving him? Are you more likely to run with him in agreement or from him in disobedience?

The following statement may seem like a bitter pill, but it’s actually a better pill … the only reason God allows His children to despair is so we can learn not to trust in ourselves, but in Him alone. That’s it….

* What hitting a spiritual wall looks like….read 1 Samuel 16:13; 18:12-16; and 27:1 and ask yourself, “what is horribly wrong with this picture?!?” Key in on the phrase in 27:1, “but David thought to himself…” It’s vital to note that during David’s 16 months living with the Philistines (which, by itself, was dangerously disobedient to God’s direction), not one Psalm is recorded. During every other phase of his life he was offering up praise, poem, song and laments. Not here…God is out of sight, out of mind!

What It Takes to Break Through Spiritual Walls …

Face the Truth – this may seem like a “duh” statement, but honestly, it’s the most difficult of all the steps. Until you face the truth about yourself, you can’t get better. A wise man once said, “The truth will set you free, but it’ll hurt you first.” The very first of the 12 steps in any addiction counseling is “I admit I have a problem…and am powerless by myself.” Notice the first words of 1 Samuel 30:6b, “but David…” Breaking through is always intentional, and that starts with facing the cold, hard truth.
Remember God’s Love – here’s where knowing God’s Word becomes a deal-breaker. You either know it, and can fall back on it – or you don’t, and can’t. Remembering who God is, repeating his promises, and meditating on his faithfulness in your past is a good start. Here in 30:6b it says David strengthened himself “in the Lord his God.” Is He your God personally? Not your parents…not your spouse’s…but yours? You can know about God, but not know God.
Humbly Ask for God’s Help – Note 30:8 … “shall I pursue them?” As far as we know, this was the first time in 16 months David had asked for God’s help and guidance. Why should he ask? If someone had stolen your family and all you had, wouldn’t you go after them regardless?!? Yet David humbled himself and asked for God’s help. Key word here is “humble.” (Important: note that David was IMMEDIATELY back in contact with God. Just like the prodigal son, God comes running when we humbly repent and turn back to him!)
There’s so much more to commentate on here, but I’d point you to Psalm 51 – David’s confession and humbling before God after committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. The beauty of David’s life is he’s like us…full of problems, constantly falling down and hitting a wall spiritually…the reason he’s knows as a man “after God’s own heart” is because he always had a contrite, humble heart in asking God for forgiveness….and then he always praised God!

Q: What does it mean to “strengthen yourself in the Lord?” Practically, what does that look like?

Q: Is depression sin? Cite biblical evidence pro or con.

Q: Does God’s sovereignty eliminate the need for human effort? Where is the biblical balance?

Bottom Line: God’s grace means that he doesn’t deal with us according to our sins, but according to His great mercy shown to us in Christ. Listen, it’s in those moments when life tumbles in around us that we discover what we truly believe … and the watching world discovers what we believe as well. The world has no answer for a Christian whose faith shines in the darkness of personal tragedy…remember that.