Have you been there? Are you there right now? Unmotivated. Tired. Uninspired. Discouraged. Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Emotionally Spent. Physically Spent. And it just seems like you can’t pull out of this rut?

That’s where I’ve been for several weeks now. I’ve been unmotivated, uninspired, lazy, exhausted, struggling to get through daily tasks, just completing the minimum to survive. It seems like for me a few nights of lost sleep start me down this “stuck in a rut” path. Or some discouraging days take me on a detour and before I know it, I am in a rut.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons the Bible tells us to stay vigilant or to be alert – Acts 20:31, Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8. And why the discipline of daily Bible reading and prayer is so important. “The Rut” is where the devil wants me to be. When I am in a rut, I’m not as guarded. I’m an easier target for him to attack. I am easier to discourage. He knows it’s when I will look to social media or tv to numb my mind, to escape, to try and get renewed. But all the while, social media and tv never really renews me and/or gives me the escape I need. It actually ends up draining me more and sinking me deeper in to the rut. And so the cycle begins. Watch more media to escape, never find that escape, watch more, sink more, so on and so on until I feel like poo, mush, deflated, lazy, unmotivated, etc… The same feelings I was trying to combat in the first place!! My mind is no longer sharp and prepared, my fuse is shorter and I’m more irritable, my selfishness is heightened, my responses and reactions aren’t graced and loving, they’re short and with attitude. Don’t I totally sound like the person you want to hang out with??!!??

When I am not alert, when I’m not vigilant, the worst parts of me emerge and are in control. It’s a constant intentional action we have to take to be vigilant. And. It’s. Hard. At least for me. Because the rut sneaks up on me, sort of like a pot hole in the road you don’t see because the glare of the sun somehow bypasses your amazingly, stylish, polarized sunglasses… 😎 😡

I think the hardest part of the rut is getting out of it. Because you have to recognize you are in it and then somehow muster up the motivation to get out of it. And the sooner you recognize and get out of the rut, the better.

So, now I’ve realized my rut…. now what? I need to fight to get out of it. I need to turn on my music instead of scroll through social media. I need to read my Bible instead of watch tv. I need to listen to the encouraging sermons that inspire and motivate me. And most importantly, I need to pray. Because I can do all the aforementioned things, but if I try and do it all in my own strength I will keep failing to get out of this rut. My strength alone isn’t enough. I am weak. Easy prey. But God. Say that with me… BUT GOD! He is the one that will reach down, pick me up where I have fallen, and give me the strength, grace, and mercy to get out of the rut.

Will you pray with me? I mean right now… Because I am serious. I. WANT. OUT. of this rut! I’m tired of driving on flat tires! How about you?

Let’s do this.

Father,

You are gracious. You are merciful. You are mighty. You are here with me. Father, I have fallen in to a rut. Please use your mighty right arm to pick me up and lift me out of this rut. Forgive me for looking to social media, tv, and other things for renewal, comfort, and satisfaction instead of looking to you. In you I find my renewal. In you I find strength. In you I find rest, satisfaction, contentment, value, identity, joy, purpose, motivation, and so much more. Father, I fall in to your arms weak, exhausted, unmotivated. Please let me feel your embrace. Renew my soul. Give me the rest only you can give. Awaken my heart and mind. Help me to be vigilant. Help me to be disciplined in prayer and reading your love letters, the Bible. Give me knowledge and wisdom. Help me to love and respond well to those around me. Help me to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you. Help me to put on your armor so I can withstand the schemes of the devil. Help me to clothe myself with the Lord Jesus Christ and not think about how to gratify the desires of my flesh. I want more of you and less of me.

Amen.

My friend. I hope you are encouraged if you are in a rut. I hope you will fight with me to get out of the rut. And more than anything, I pray you seek the strength God offers to lift you out. You are not alone. You are loved and chosen. Rest in His strength. ❤