How many times have we heard someone make the comment (or we make it ourselves) that an acquaintance “let herself go”. Usually when such an observation is made it is referring to someone who entered a season of life wherein they stopped taking care of their appearance and a clear downgrade has been the result. Maybe it was visible weight gain or hair that was once styled becoming stringy and split at the ends. Perhaps she no longer dresses smartly whereas she once conveyed a well-detailed image. Often this type of person wears a different countenance from previous days – the smile is gone, the eyes are lowered, her former brightness dulled. She knows that she’s struggling on the inside and she no longer has the will to wrap herself up on the outside to put up the facade that she’s on top of her game. She’s really let herself go.
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.” – Deuteronomy 4:9 {ESV}
I’ve been that woman before. So have you, Christian friend. It is not my appearance that I’m speaking of primarily (although I’m easily 50 pounds heavier than I was when I first got married). What I’m referring to is those seasons of heart and mind, soul and spirit when our faith is not full and our spiritual eyes lose their brightness. Reading the Bible seems like a chore instead of a treasure during times like this. Church attendance becomes something other than a joy-laced expectancy as we would much rather sleep in or spend a Sunday in detached recreation. In seasons when we let ourselves go, sin creeps in and we find ourselves saying, thinking and doing things that are inconsistent with who we are in Christ. Soon enough, we lose connection with our identity in Him and start to believe that we are someone other than who He has made us. The enemy seizes moments like these and hurls guilt and shame and fear at us in order to convince us that our weakness and neglect have so appalled God that He has now left us as we have chosen. We can let ourselves go spiritually and none of us enjoys it when it becomes our reality. Scripture is replete with examples of this. Israel’s first two kings experienced this, Saul and David dropped their guards and walked at a distance from their God. David recovered, Saul never did. Jeremiah the prophet tried to quit on God and found that He could not…but he did try. The same with pouting Elijah who thundered fire from Heaven in one chapter and then whined and whimpered under a juniper tree in the next. Job’s wife was married to the godliest man of her day and, when pain ambushed her unproven heart, she found herself counseling her husband to curse God and die; she wanted to walk away from it all. The disciples quit the ministry after the crucifixion and went back out on the lake to finish out their days; that is, until the resurrected Jesus came and set them back aright. What I’m trying to say is that letting oneself go is a very legitimate possibility in a believer’s life if we are not careful. Some of you reading have admittedly done so in recent times and I encourage you today that it’s a great time to come to your senses.
God gives much grace. He understands the fickleness of your heart and can powerfully remedy it. You likely don’t need to make Him any promises or deals. When you let yourself go you don’t really have anything to offer Him by way of negotiation. Rather, you need to confess your emptiness and waywardness and spiritual apathy. Call it for what it is and let Him know that you are tired of it. Ask God to refashion your heart and breathe some freshness back in your soul. As you pray for His help, begin again to do the little things that strengthen all of us. The diminished lady I described above would do well to run a brush through her hair, put on a little makeup, iron a blouse and spend some time with a trusted friend. It’s similar for you and I when a spiritual funk overshadows us: pick up your bible and read some; go to church tonight for a midweek service. Spend some time listening to an online sermon (we have many in the podcast player on this website). Above all, talk to God…soon. Your voice. Your words. Your heart. Your compassionate Savior.
You don’t have to be strong, friend. You just have to be aware. You have to be willing. You have to care enough for your soul that you remember that God has not moved an inch away from you in your struggles. He’s still right here and He’s ready when you are.
I pray that I never sink into this condition again. It has happened in the past and in my case it was because of a sin I simply could not release to the Lord. I believe now that it was not
that I could not, it was I didn’t think that I was acceptable to Him any more. I thank God that
He has pulled me out of that muck and mire and has renewed my mind and spirit. Thank Him daily…more often really, for the heights to which He has lifted me,,,to live in communion with Him! He paid it all.
I would agree but there are other real reasons today, like
Life changing diseases.
Then you get medications that actually make you gain weight and not
just a few pounds,
Your body starts to fight itself from healing.
Can’t exercise depression,constant pain.
We can only Trust and Turn to the Lord who knows our pain.