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Getting Rid of the Doldrums Requires Change

Posted on 03.20.2013

Let’s face it. Occasionally, our lives can feel as if we are stuck in the same place. There are days like that, I must admit. Though I have felt slightly discontented with my same routines, I have continued in the good habits I have had for years. For example, having a consistent prayer life and scripture reading. In my evaluation of the doldrums, I have identified the habits that have been beneficial. I will never stop them, because they keep my focus on God, my husband and children as my top priorities. Pursuing Christ has kept me alive and well despite sporadic boredom.

In fact, the doldrums serve to ignite a restless search for what God is doing these days. I have discovered in a new way that for me to continue to grow and go further in my walk with God, I must be willing to make some changes. There is some great saying or tenet that says if you do the same thing, you will get the same result. Well, as stubborn as I am, I must be willing to change some things.

Change means surrendering things that I do not want to surrender. It can mean people, places and things.  Change means surrendering to God. Change also means having to stretch and get out of my comfort zone. I am quickly reminded of the Prayer of Jabez craze. Christians and non-Christians were praying the prayer of expanding one’s territory (I Chronicles 4:9-10). One cannot expand territory and move into new things if one is not willing to get out of one’s comfort zone. We must be brave enough to go places we have not been before, literally and figuratively.

Change is being willing to learn new things and dig deeper. As I have begun to do new things as God leads, my soul is encouraged. I do not want to be stuck in the same spot. I want to see growth. Change means realizing that our Heavenly Father is neither stale nor boring. We are made in His image. He wants us to grow, learn and expand the breadth, depth and height of who we are in Him. I once learned from a wise Bible teacher that God will take us as far as we want to go in Him. I believe that. Surely God is doing “a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19)!

I implore you, my friends and family, in order to get rid of the doldrums, look and see where God wants to take you, and be willing to go there! I am asking God to do this for me, although I love my current existence with my family and work. God still wants to do more and we all must be willing to take steps of faith and believe that He will continue to lead us into new territory: “…you will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).