Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV).

There are times when I actively pursue God with outstanding zeal and other seasons when I find my attention divided (Luke 10:38-42). Sometimes it is rooted in mistakenly erecting idols or spreading ourselves too thinly across many areas (1 Corinthians 10:14). We might find ourselves in a state of satisfaction where we immerse ourselves in the things of God but then allow elements of compromise to open the door to complacency. A certain degree of self-awareness helps greatly in cases like this. If we realize that our hearts are not all-in for God’s glory, we can at least acknowledge that change is needed (2 Corinthians 13:5). Otherwise, it is easy to continue to slip away from God. As any seasoned believer will tell you, only bad things can come from that. The last thing we can afford to concede is our intimacy with Jesus Christ (John 15:4-6).

In cases like these, we might also make the mistaken connection of thinking that our standing with God might improve based on our performance. In terms of salvation, this could not be further from the truth (Ephesians 2:8-9)! Likewise, if we do things for God, they should flow out of gratitude and transformation in our lives (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10). In other words, we know that God will not love us anymore or any less based on what we do. We cannot earn God’s grace (unmerited favor). By definition, it is something we do not deserve in the first place. Suffice it to say that we are inspired to do good works as a result of being believers, not to become saved or maintain our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our world sidetracks us with many distractions that detract from our focus on eternity. We must remind ourselves and other loved ones that such endeavors may not effectively redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16-21). At times we tend to concentrate on the circumstances this world puts us in with greater attention than that which we extend toward God. Meanwhile, we should recognize God’s sovereignty and find our ultimate source of comfort, satisfaction, solutions, and rest in Him (Psalm 16:11). Instead, we tend to resort to our efforts to solve problems that often only serve to stress us out or instill worry in us concerning matters outside our control (Matthew 6:34). Furthermore, many of these issues that we blow out of proportion eventually prove less of a threat to our lives than we thought they would be.

Of course, I am not advocating that we settle into a pattern of passivity and fail to address the outstanding issues we must face. On the contrary, God wants us to be faithful and fearlessly seek His will in good and bad times. The key is to remember that God and His numerous provisions are available to us as we face these battles (2 Peter 1:3). Rather than attempting to handle something alone, we can follow God’s will and seek counsel from others who can offer wisdom on navigating the situation (Proverbs 11:14). Likewise, instead of worrying about our circumstances, we can pray to God and surrender our requests, concerns, and anxieties at His feet (1 Peter 5:7). Finally, we may need to exercise humility if personally stressed or on the verge of burnout. Sharing that information with our loved ones who God has surrounded us with and seeking His help and peace is crucial (Galatians 6:9-10).

Another issue that pops up on an alarming basis is the perception that one has tasted enough of God’s presence (Ecclesiastes 8:3). For instance, we may live in a toxic work environment or face countless worldly situations from one Sunday to the next. We might think that as long as we replenish ourselves with God’s Word for that Sunday service, we can handle a whole week without continuing to pursue God. Then we are caught off guard when we do not feel God’s presence as intimately and lack spiritual nourishment (Psalm 46:10). We need to recognize that a brief sermon is not sufficient to cope with the weight of this world across the span of a week.

As such, we must consider options such as surrounding ourselves with Christian fellowship, personal Bible study, involvement in a Church small group, and maintaining an active prayer life (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Chronicles 6:11). I am not saying all these things are necessary simultaneously. Still, in a general sense, they serve to edify you and those around you in extraordinary ways over time (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13). They also open the door for you to share your insight with other believers and allow you to serve God in the process.

One of the key takeaways from all this is to recall that it isn’t likely that we remain stationary in our walk with Jesus Christ. Instead, we walk toward Him or away from Him with every decision we make (Joshua 24:15). While we cannot lose our salvation through patterns of continuous, unrepentant sin, it should concern us if we are not observing sanctification in our lives overall (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It follows that our intimacy with Jesus Christ should be prioritized and could suffer if we fail to neglect such concerns. We must avoid compromise at all costs and draw nearer to God at every opportunity (Isaiah 55:6). Every decision tends to lead us closer or further away from God. We should set our sights on the significance of eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ and recall how brief our life is by comparison (Psalm 144:4, James 4:14). As such, let us seek God and His will by actively pursuing a relationship with our Lord and Savior. After all, it is only in, with, and through Jesus Christ that we successfully do anything of eternal value.

One possible consideration is that God might be preparing our character (Ephesians 2:10). Facing trials may put the kind of pressure on us that we have never dealt with before. When you and I find ourselves in a situation where we must confront such obstacles, God provokes us to step out in faith. Sure, we could choose to be angry at God, throw a pity party, and give up. However, God knows we can mourn the loss, draw nearer to Him, and rely on Him to overcome the seemingly impossible instead (Proverbs 3:5-6). If we never came across this kind of testing in life, we might come to a point where we are too comfortable (James 1:2-8). Extreme comfort can breed complacency and lack of purpose, neither of which we ought to desire. In these times, we need to take refuge under the shelter of our unchanging (Hebrews 13:8), omnipotent (Revelation 19:6), omniscient (Psalm 147:5), and omnipresent God (Psalm 91:1-4). We need to remember His promises to us and seek Him whole-heartedly (Jeremiah 29:13), knowing that He would not allow anything to transpire that didn’t work out for His eternal glory and our eternal good (Romans 8:28).

Sometimes the difficulty is far less dramatic but still substantial enough to lead us to our knees. Maybe your best friend since childhood moved away, or you had a rough week at work. Indeed, we could try to handle these issues on our strength, but why not bring them to God first? We should pray for wisdom and discernment when we have a significant decision, but we do not have an obvious answer. Life will throw us all curveballs. It is only a matter of time before we face the next one. 

If we have faith in God, how can we justify not bringing such matters to His attention right away? He knew what was coming, when it was coming, and how it would transpire. It is up to us to recognize that while God is sovereign, He has divinely orchestrated everything to happen in a way that takes prayers and individual accountability into consideration. You and I should not be discouraged from seeking God simply because we know He has it all under control. Remember, God not only wants to further our relationship with Him through our sole Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5-6), Jesus Christ, but He also desires us to align with His will willingly. What better way to do that than to reach out to Him and share our concerns transparently?

There are instances where God calls us to shift in direction. Occasionally, friends may draw closer or further away. Alternatively, people might come or go from your life altogether. Perhaps, He might lead you to transition away from a workplace or close a door you assumed would be open forever. At times these kinds of adjustments may be pretty intimidating. Especially when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory, facing unexpected tasks, and few allies we can trust whole-heartedly. 

It makes sense for us to seek God first and foremost in all circumstances and every area, but nothing drives us quite as quickly to our knees as these kinds of issues. Thankfully, we can trust God and even validate His faithfulness to us in our shared history with Him. Most of us need not look back too far if we are paying attention to see how God has never let us down or forgotten us (Hebrews 13:5). He might have allowed certain things seem not to have gone our way from our finite perspective. However, if we knew what God knows in His infinite wisdom, we would most certainly recognize His reasoning. If we saw the vision, eternal value, and purpose He has for things, it would not even cross our minds to question Him.

We need to step into the faith zone with God continually. No matter where you are, what you are coping with, or how far you still have to go, God will remain unchanging in the life of a believer (James 1:17, Malachi 3:6). His Word is a timeless resource and will always remain a written testament to His glory. The same way He was faithful in the lives of our forefathers who came before, He will stay so with us. God is not in the business of letting us down, and all the things we think are setbacks in one form or another point to a greater purpose in His plans from an eternal vantage point. May we faithfully and humbly pursue His will to bring Him glory accordingly and remember that His ways are always superior to our own (1 Peter 4:7-11).