Surely I’m not the only one to feel the fog. That uncomfortable state of feeling unconnected to anyone, even yourself, and definitely God. You can’t remember the truths you always fall back on for comfort, and you can say the words but they don’t mean anything at the moment.
Some days you wake and the fog is not there; mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually you’re alive and awake with light feet, no dragging. Aren’t those the greatest days?
There was a voice in my head, and then a literal voice of a friend, saying to me like a lighthouse in the middle of this fog:
“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith!” Jude :20
Yes! Truth my brain could grasp! There is something I can do while I wait this out!
Like when you have a cold or some other sickness that weakens your senses and resolve and enthusiasm for life, you build up your immune system. You do purposeful things to get strong again, to treat your body to some kindness and goodness and wellness. You take extra vitamin C, get extra sleep, eat extra veggies and fruit, stay hydrated with echinacea or super triple antioxidant berry tea–whatever it is, you find ways to physically put into your body whatever it needs. Why does it need the extra TLC right now? Who knows! The stresses of life is probably a sufficient enough answer! It doesn’t matter WHY your body is a mess and needs the time of strengthening, it just does, and we do what we need to do.
The same is true for our spiritual nutrition, our spiritual immune system. The stresses of life want to take us down for the count! The enemy wants to take us down for the count! But we have a defense; we can build ourselves up in our most holy faith. We can surround ourselves with truth and hear it, say it, read it, sing it, gulp it down like a giant bottle of Emergen-C.
He takes care of the rest.
Do we feel better immediately after a dose of physical nutrition? Not necessarily. But it is doing something internally that will benefit us at a later date. The same thing goes with the Word, worship, prayer, putting on our armor, soaking. In the unseen, battles are being fought, faith is being built. We are reminding the enemy and ourselves that there is action we can take against the moods and stress and stuff of this temporal life when we choose to build ourselves up in our most holy faith.
Whether we wake up to fog or a brilliantly blue sky, we’re not a slave to whatever we wake up to. The grey does not own us. We have everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3); we can choose today to fortify ourselves for tomorrow. And of course our efforts are only a small part of how we are reached by His goodness; He promises that every day His mercies are new (Lam. 3:23)!
May we, by His grace, commit ourselves to reaching forward and grasping them!
This is a wonderful article. Really spoke to me. Thanks! Keep going…
This article really spoke to me. Thanks for writing and sharing!
I can so relate to this!! Wow!! You put into words perfectly the “fog” I feel from time to time. And I needed this reminder that even though being in the Word might not evidently benefit me short term, it will most definitely benefit me long-term.
I’ve been looking for genuine, authentic Christian blogs and I think I’ve found this in yours.
That being said, you have a beautiful voice and soul-touching lyrics. Artists like you are a gem and treasure. Your song “when faith runs deep” deeply touched me and helped me healthfully grieve when one of my lovely friends passed away. I can’t hear the song or have it play in my head without it bringing tears of comfort and remembrance to my eyes. Thank you for this beautiful gift. Much love and blessings sent your way.
Brenna,
Sorry for the incredibly late response here! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Wow. I’m so grateful the Lord would work through mere words and tunes, to teach, remind, carry, and bless. I am honored. Thank you for listening and for sharing your thoughts. HUGS!
Lyndsay