(Photo by Selma Komisky)

When Your Life Isn’t Loading

By Keni Kirkwood

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

– Romans 8:6 (NIV)

“Turn it off and back on again,” they say. That’s seemingly the answer to every possible phone, computer, and tablet issue you could ever have. The same goes for an app or webpage that just won’t load. Whether your screen is freezing up, your programs are going haywire, or you’re not getting  a signal, you are always directed back to one simple answer. You refresh. And usually, yeah, that’s all it takes.

The funny thing is, our lives are like that too. Do you ever feel like even though you’re doing everything you know to do your life simply won’t load? I certainly have. It can feel like we’re stuck on a mundane hamster wheel, just waiting for something exciting to happen. Or maybe it’s another glitch. Perhaps you feel like God isn’t talking to you, or you have a bad habit you just can’t get rid of. Do you wish you could call up Customer Service and say, “Hey, my life isn’t working!”

Good news, my friend. You can totally do that. God is always there to “take our calls” and hear what’s going on in our lives. (The bonus: He won’t leave us on hold for an hour of smooth jazz). Most often, we’ll come back to one simple answer. We need to refresh.

That’s right. Sometimes, we need a classic reboot. And all it takes is three simple steps.

1) Turn Off The Problem

In our lives, there are times we need to re-evaluate our input. Let’s take a step back from any distractions to our walk with God and ask ourselves why we’re feeling stuck. Are we stressing about work? Dealing with an unhealthy relationship (friend or otherwise)? Just plain anxious?

Ask yourself what’s feeding you. Maybe you need a break from social media, or to clear an event or two from your calendar to make some extra time with God. If we aren’t spending quality time with the Lord every day, then it’s no wonder we’re disconnected. If other things are filling that hole, then they need to go. Maybe not forever, but at least until things are back in balance.

2) Turn On The Solution

If we need to get rid of the negative input in our walk, then it’s only logical that we may periodically need to re-introduce the positive input. Sure, even if we’re consistent in our time with God, it might not always be true quality time. I find that during busy weeks, even when I keep my appointment with God in the morning, I often forget to invite Him into the rest of my day.

So, let’s get intentional. Throughout the day, ask Jesus to walk with you. Trust me, a simple prayer can make all the difference. Another thing that helps is to liven up your quiet time. Learning how to really study the Bible and dig in, as opposed to passively reading, has been revolutionary for me. And don’t underestimate the power of simply sitting in God’s presence either.

3) Keep Hitting “Refresh”

Finally, sometimes we are truly taking steps in our walk, but simply not feeling anything new or exciting. Don’t panic. This is totally normal, and there are a lot of reasons it can happen. The answer, again, is a simple one: keep going. Just like when a particular webpage won’t load and we keep trying again, we often have to keep “refreshing” our walk.

Don’t give up on your praying, studying and worshiping just because you don’t “feel” it. I want to encourage you to persevere through those challenging seasons. The Bible assures us that investing in God’s word is a worthy investment, and it won’t yield empty returns. If you are sincerely seeking your Savior, you’ll hear His voice again.

My dear friend, I hope and pray that these steps will encourage you in whatever season you currently find yourself in. Stay strong as you wait for your life to load. It’s only a season; God hasn’t left you. On that note, I’ll leave you with the words of the apostle Paul.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  

– 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)