Sam was hungry. He had been so busy that he hadn’t eaten all day. So when work was over and he pulled up to the Hungry Man Smorgasbord, he was ready for a feast.
And what a feast it was, spread out before him like a royal banquet! The chefs had prepared prime rib, baked ham, honey-roasted chicken, and several seafood delights. Sam could also enjoy lasagna, enchiladas, and sweet and sour pork. Crisp vegetables and fruit salads. Homemade soups. Sumptuous cakes, deep-dish pies and gourmet ice cream. And he could top it off with milk, coffee, tea, soft drinks, even designer mineral water.
Sam took a tray, added utensils wrapped around a linen napkin, and started down the line.
The salads looked delicious. But as he approached them his mind darted to the problem he had wrestled with at work that morning. Before he knew it he had passed the salads and was standing before the selection of meats.
But he couldn’t decide which entree he wanted . . . he thought of closing his eyes and pointing to one, but people behind him were growing restless. So he moved on. He felt so rushed that he passed right by the Italian, Mexican and Chinese foods.
He grabbed a packet of saltine crackers but missed the soups because he was thinking about the TV series that would be on later that evening. Then he saw someone in the line who reminded him of a client at the office. That must have been when he passed by the desserts without seeing them.
By this time, he had arrived at the beverage section, but was so distracted that he could barely select a glass to push against the chrome faucet for some tepid tap water.
The cashier looked at Sam curiously. “Is that all you’re having?”
“It’ll do,” he replied. “I’m in kind of a hurry.”
Sam feasted on his crackers and water, then got up to leave. I wonder why I’m still hungry, he thought, as he walked to his car.
And later that evening, as he stared at the TV screen, he thought, Why do I feel so weak? .
I could tell as soon as Doug and I shook hands that something was wrong.
This sharp, mid-30ish man had served diligently on our staff for more than three years. Whenever I had seen him, his bright smile and sparkling eyes had been of encouragement to me. Today, though, Doug’s smile just wasn’t quite the same. As we sat at the sofa and armchair arrangement in my office, he got right to the point.
“Bill, I asked to see you because I’m struggling.”
During the past several weeks, Doug told me, he had felt as though he were ministering from an empty reservoir. His passion for serving Christ had evaporated. The spiritual enthusiasm and joy that had characterized his daily life was no longer there.
“The other day I was around some happy Christians,” he sighed, “and my reaction was, They’ll get over it. I’ve noticed myself becoming cynical over other people’s joy. I’ve tried confessing my negative attitude as soon as the Holy Spirit convicts me, and I consciously try to return the throne of my life to the Lord. But I’m still feeling dry—almost as if I don’t care.”
Doug went on to describe some other symptoms of his spiritual struggle. When he had finished, I thanked him for his honesty. “You’ve come to a brother in Christ for help,” I affirmed him, “and that is often the toughest step.
“Doug,” I continued, “as you know, I strongly believe that it is impossible for a Spirit-filled Christian to be miserable, and it’s impossible for a miserable Christian to be Spirit-filled, because the fruit of the Spirit includes joy and peace. Would you agree with that?”
He pondered my question for a moment. “I know that in my head, Bill. But I’m not experiencing it in my heart. I think I’m controlled by the Holy Spirit, and I’ve asked God to reveal any unconfessed sin in my life so I can breathe spiritually. But I still feel weak and worthless. Something is short-circuiting the joy and power of the Holy Spirit in my life.”
I could tell that it was difficult for him to admit these things to me. I again assured Doug that I wasn’t there to be judgmental, but to help him as one brother to another. Then I asked, “Would you mind if I ask you some personal questions to see if we can identify the problem?”
Doug eagerly agreed. When our time together was over, we had pinpointed several causes for his struggle. He had known all about the Spirit-filled life; he had even taught it to several hundred Christians during the course of his ministry. But without realizing it, Doug had let himself become distracted. He had drifted away from some of the rich privileges God has made available to every Christian.
If you are not experiencing the joy and peace God promised the problem is not God. Talk with a trusted, Spirit-filled friend and together ask God to show you what the root cause of your struggle is. The Spirit-filled life DOES work! Don’t let the enemy convince you otherwise.
By Bill Bright
©2024 Copyright Bright Media Foundation
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