When the Flame Burns Low

April 27

When The Flame Burns Low by Dr. D. James Kennedy

…‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’—John 12:21

Do you feel a little low, as if your spiritual gas tank is on empty? Has the fire of Christ’s joy within you dwindled to an ember? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in very good company. Many people in the Bible experienced the same weariness and loss of zeal.

David cried, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51:12).

Solomon said, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12).

Job lamented, “May the day perish on which I was born, and the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived’”(Job 3:3).

Moses entreated, “I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now” (Numbers 11:14–15).

Paul explained, “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8).

What causes spiritual weariness? Often we find ourselves spiritually drained because we have unconfessed and unrepented sin in our lives. I once left my car parked at the beach on a windy, humid day. When I returned several hours later, the windshield was coated with a thick, salty encrustation. I could hardly remove the salty layer with the windshield wipers. Unconfessed sin does the same thing to the soul. It clouds it and takes away its sparkle. Do you have unconfessed sin weighing you down and tiring you out?

We also grow spiritually weary when we lead hurried lives. As we do more and more for Christ, we have less and less time to spend in private devotions, our time of spiritual rejuvenation. Our lives become like the bottom of a soda sucked dry through a straw. The Bible tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Can you set aside some extra time today to rest in your Father’s arms?

Sometimes we lose our spiritual edge because we’ve taken our eyes off our Savior and Lord. As we walk across the sea of life, we can stay on top of the tumultuous waves as long as we focus on Jesus. But when we look away, the breakers come crashing in and knock us down. Do you need to refocus your spiritual sights on your Savior today?