Help for Weary Hearts Walking Through the Faith Blues

We talk a lot about the winter blues. There are uncountable articles on the subject and even those of us who like to be inside get the winter blues at times. After all, the days are shorter and darker. The weather is gloomy. And we just overall feel tired.

Seattle has 226 days a year of gray and cloudy weather. That’s a lot of days and it tends to challenge even the most cheerful people.

But, what if the winter blues affect even your faith?

I think everyone has felt it at times. Suddenly everything feels dull and meaningless, even our relationship with God. We go through the motions of faith but nothing sinks in. We read the same page in the Bible over and over again, trying to force the words to enter our brain. And when we pray, the words feel inadequate and stilted.

The “faith blues” can hit without warning. They often follow a life crisis of some kind. Like depression, they feel overwhelming and hard to move on from.

When you have the regular blues, people tell you to read your Bible more and to pray more. That’s great advice if you’re up to it. But if praying and reading have become dull and problematic, you might feel stuck.

Here are some ideas that might help you combat “The Faith Blues”:

1. Admit it. I think first and foremost is to admit to the Father that you are struggling. I know it’s sometimes tempting to try to hide it, even from Him and to go through the motions hoping that our faith walk will spring back to life. But He knows. And he’s ready to help.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29

2. Ask Him. Since He’s already aware of how you’re feeling, ask him for help to combat the blahs. Seriously, who better to help you heal?

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

3. Change locations. A lot of us pray in the same place every day. We might pray in bed before the kids wake up, or in the car, or in a certain chair. Change things up. Make a point of moving your prayer spot. If you’re up to it, create a new space with a cozy chair, a throw, and a light source. Sometimes, moving where you pray is enough to spice up your prayer life.

4. A New Reading Spot. The same is true for Bible studying. I know I, for one, always read in the same chair. Move things around. If the words aren’t sinking in, go into another room. My husband bought a new lamp and put it behind my chair. The bright light has helped me focus in a better way. Or drive to a neighborhood coffee shop and study there for a while.

5. Buy a raincoat. Okay. That sounds weird. But even a short walk outside makes me feel closer to God. The problem is that all those gray days we have are often accompanied by rain. I don’t have a raincoat right now and that keeps me inside. My plan this year is to buy one so that I have no excuse to stay inside. A short walk while listening to the rain will wake me up in new ways.

6. Do It Anywhere. The beautiful thing about prayer is that it can be done anywhere at any time. I’ve talked about moving locations inside your home, what about praying while you’re out and about? Pray while you take a walk. I have been known to pray while I grocery shop. Nowadays, you can even pray out loud and people will just think you’re on a Bluetooth earpiece talking to a friend (you kind of are!).

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

7. You Don’t Need to be Erudite. If your faith blues are so bad that you can’t form coherent prayers, don’t worry about it. Sometimes on a walk I simply thank Him for everything I see. “Thank you for that lovely flower.” “Thank you for those colorful leaves.” At other times I just groan and say. “I can’t form words!” He gets it, don’t worry.

8. Match Your Style. My brain needs creativity. I bought myself a journaling Bible, highlighters, rubber stamps, pens, etc. Adding color and whimsy to my studying has woken up my brain. My husband, on the other hand, is logical. He needs logic and history and charts and maps. He has lots of concordances and books by old preachers, etc. to liven up his reading. No way is “right”. Do what matches your style.

9. Meet Friends. It may seem like the last thing you feel like doing but invite a trustworthy friend out for tea. Share with her that you are feeling “The Faith Blues”. Ask her to pray for you and with you.

Feeling the faith blues is not something to be ashamed of and we need to stop feeling that way about it. Life ebbs and flows. There will always be highs and lows. It doesn’t mean you’re less than other believers.

Do what you can to make your faith simple and fun until you can “get back on the horse”. Rest and try not to focus on “shoulds”. Instead, do what you can and make your journey as pleasant and fun as possible.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2