Returning from a road trip I was asking a friend whether I should do a survey of the Bible or a study of the Psalms. She pondered for a minute and asked the question, “What are you missing?” My response was, “I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s not here.” Her next question was, “What do you want and why do you need to do another bible study because you are already in two and following a certain church in its messages.” Because I enjoy learning, I knew that I wanted to know more about the bible. My friend said, “Many people know the bible. Too much knowledge makes a person arrogant and prideful. You would be surprised at the number of people who have Bible knowledge but don’t have a relationship with God. What you are in search of is intimacy with Christ.”
I know that I have had it, and I know that my faith in Him has not wavered even in the hard times. What has happened that I don’t feel that intimacy with Him? Now that the problem has been identified, how do I find intimacy with Christ again? I suddenly became very aware that in my weariness with life, my intimacy was stagnant. Now is the time when I need closeness with God the most. Jeremiah 24:7 says, “I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” What I have learned from this “dry” spell is that God doesn’t give up on us or leave us, but He gives us an open door to go through to get to Him. Stagnant intimacy is not an issue that we don’t or won’t encounter in our Christian walk. The first course of action is to recognize the problem or have a friend who can recognize it for you and then decide what to do about it. So, what does it mean to have intimacy with Christ?
Intimacy is defined as a “close familiarity or friendship; closeness.” According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we all have a desire to belong, be accepted unconditionally, flaws and all. We want to be in existence where people know who we are without facades and pretenses. That type of intimacy begins with an imperfect us and a perfect God.
In the season where intimacy wanes, if we are not careful, we can easily give in to thoughts of never finding that intimacy with Christ or feeling that we are lesser Christians. I have found that in these seasons, our physical well-being, our emotional headspace, and mental focus are the biggest obstacles in our lack of intimacy. Keep in mind that the enemy loves the struggle and would love to do nothing more than keep you in this conundrum. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.”
So, in my stagnant season of intimacy, I am going to keep living by faith, writing in this blog, sitting still, praying, and listening. I challenge you to remember these lyrics when you encounter your stagnant season of intimacy:
How do you get out of this stagnant existence and return to intimacy with God? First, spend some quiet time in His presence to evaluate the heart and make sure not to believe the enemy’s lies. Pray, pray without ceasing! Journal your real thoughts and prayers and give them over to Him. (As my friend says, go back at a later time and see how the Lord has answered prayers and worked in your life.) Surround yourself with fellow believers who will listen and share their stories of stagnant intimacy because you are not the first, nor will you be the last to feel this way. Above all else, read your bible and meditate on His Word.
“God is able to do just what He said He would do
He’s going to fulfill every promise to you.
Don’t give up on God cause He won’t give up on you.
He’s Able.”
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