How to Get Out of a Slump
Tufts of moisture spot the sky in shades of periwinkle as we stand along the shoreline. My little boy is wearing white socks under his sandals to protect a large bandage on his wounded foot. I’m not thinking about how to get out of a slump, but what happens next will be a lesson in obedience for years to come.
It’s never pretty when disobedience leaves you stuck in the mud, wondering just how in the world you’re going to wiggle to freedom.
“Stay out of the water,” I warn as he splashes a playful toe in the muddy water.
The little guy is ten feet away, and he figures I can’t get there in time to stop him.
He’s an all-in sort of guy, so he plunges into the murky water in a sort of leap. He sinks to his knees before he realizes what happened. I rush to him and pull his little body from the muck. We lose a sandal in the process.
He begins to sob as soon as he sees his blackened socks. I cringe at the thought of the microorganisms burrowing into the laceration on his foot.
We will deal with the socks later. First, we need to rescue the sandal. I plunge my arm into the stinky water and begin grasping through the mud in search of the missing sandal.
I finally pull the tiny shoe from the water, and we walk to the creek to make an effort to clean ourselves.
The Biblical Example of How to Get Out of a Slump
While Caleb splashes in the much cleaner water of Wolf Creek, I’m reminded of a passage I read in Scripture not long ago. It reads:
“‘If we have found favor in your [Moses’] eyes,’ they said, ‘let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.’ Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, ‘Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?’” (Numbers 32:5-7 NIV)
God’s people have finally reached the waters of the Jordan River, the gateway to the Promised Land. Their inheritance waits on the western side of the river. They must simply find a way to cross the river and receive the promise.
A few of the leaders look at the land where they stand on the eastern side of the river. They decide this land will be good enough for them. They’re comfortable. This spot looks quite welcoming. They approach Moses, their faithful leader, and convince him to let them stay on the eastern side of the river.
Moses relents. He simply asks that they contribute to the conquests on the western side of the river, and they may then return and settle to the east.
How to Get Out of a Slump With Full Obedience
But the happy ending never comes. The tribes who settled to the east of the Jordan River were attacked and enslaved. Enemies gouged out their eyes (Samuel 10:27, 2 Kings 10:32). Failing to obey God’s command cost them dearly.
The half-hearted Israelite clans set a good example for us all. Partial obedience is disobedience, and disobedience has a cost. We’re called to honor God for our own protection and benefit, not to stifle our fun.
I share these truths with Caleb while we clean his shoes in the semi-clear waters of Wolf Creek.
“No more mud,” he says.
“Right, no more mud,” I affirm.
Are you wondering how to get out of a slump today? Here are a few ways to get back on the right track:
1. Discover how to get out of a slump by turning around.
Every time I feel stuck in life, I begin by asking the Lord if I need to repent in some area of my life.
He often shows me a lingering bad attitude or pattern of sin. I begin the process of finding freedom when I turn around. I turn away from my sinful behavior and turn toward God. This is repentance. This is often the first step toward freedom.
2. Commit to full obedience, not partial obedience.
Did God call you to walk away from a certain behavior? Did he lead you to end a relationship?
Don’t put it off, friend.
Don’t abstain from the behavior on weekdays but indulge on weekends. Follow God the whole way.
I know it feels hard. It is also the pathway to freedom.
3. Take a firm stand.
Take a firm stand against the mind-numbing habit, the sin that is stealing your peace, or the behavior that has you feeling convicted.
Tell someone.
Find accountability.
Write down a plan.
Take action.
4. Find others who will help you.
We all need places where we can show up as the truest forms of ourselves and be heard, loved, and cared for.
Join a group of like-minded people. Reach out to a friend, or get involved in your local church. Find community and allow these people to help you get back on the right path.
We all need places where we can show up as the truest forms of ourselves and be heard, loved, and cared for. #unstuck #community #fellowship Share on XA Free Devotional to Help You Learn How to Get Out of a Slump:
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