You Can’t Do God Without God

What does it mean to “do God?” It’s what you might think: being regularly involved in a number of God-centered activities. If you “do” God, each week you probably go to church, Bible Study, Prayer group, or Christian Club “X” at work or school. Oh, and you probably fast, at least once in a while. Chances are you don’t do these things merely for ritual or show—if you're spending that time, you likely want genuinely to grow in your relationship with God—and may even desire to see others do the same. But, as those who follow this pattern know, you can go through the Godmotions but not be focused on Him at all.

There are times when I feel my relationship with God is really progressing. During these periods, I’m having meaningful Godmotions: I’m worshipping Him in some way during most hours of the day. I listen to a Christian song on the radio, and I start singing aloud, praising from my heart. I do my quiet time—or listen to a sermon—and feel so energized. I walk—anywhere—through the halls at school, down the street, and I think about God’s goodness; I completely feel His presence. Those are wonderful times.

But then I have God-less periods of Godmotions. I’m listening to the same Christian songs on the radio, or I’m praying, etc.,—pick your motion—but my mind starts wandering, and I think about everything but God. How much work I have to do. Who I saw today. Who I didn’t see. What I watched. What I read. What I need to do. When I feel this way, I don’t wonder whether God exists—He’s shown me too much of Himself for me to doubt that He is—but I do wonder why I’m not focusing on the One I say I love so much.

The answer can be a myriad of things, but the usual culprits are worry, fear, or just plain busyness. I’ve prayed about something, and I feel frustrated because He’s not answering the way I want Him to. Or, I keep pushing back my quiet time for whatever reason, because, say, I ran into friend y and ended up not reading for class, and I know I have to because last class the teacher was eyeing me as if to say, “you’re next.” But other times, I seemingly can’t explain my lack of desire.

What do you do when you seem to lose that longing? It’s tempting to stop trying to get out of that place, especially when you feel like you’re trying and nothing is changing. But if you truly believe what God’s promised in His Word—never to leave you, to reveal Himself when you seek him—that everything He says He does—all you can do is continue seeking. As that famous quote goes—“If God seems far away, guess who moved?”

It also helps to know that it’s impossible to hide a single thing from God, so you might as well stop humoring yourself and let it out. As Psalm 139:7-12 says:

Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. If I say ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me.’ Even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

It also helps just to ask God to show you—a “heart cleansing” of sorts. I like this prayer from Psalm 139: 23-24:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Finally, getting out of the “pit” may require understanding that you just need to keep growing to get past those days. If you really felt a fire for God at every moment, it would probably mean that you had Enoch or Methuselah Status (look them up if you need to:)).

Godmotions are great--if they’re done with God.