For those who have been following God for a length of time, we have all experienced seasons of feeling distant from God. Those times when the sin that we used to reject does not feel so bad. The times where we lack a desire for the Word, whether we feel we are too busy, too distracted, or just don’t feel the same stirring from our Bible reading that we may have previously experienced. 

You may ask, “How did I get here?” And let me tell you, I’ve been there. The book of Hebrews offers helpful insight and hope for those who seek to restore closeness in their walk with God.

First, let’s look at Hebrews 3-4 to see how sin creeps into our hearts. The author points readers to learn from the example of the rebellion of the Israelites.

• “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:7, NIV)

• “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12, NIV)

• “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)

• And in reference to the Israelites - “And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief?” (Hebrews 3:18-19, NIV)

Note that the author does not just point out sin, but also the hardness of heart and unbelief. The Israelites very clearly saw the work of God, which begs the question, “Where did their unbelief come from?”

How do we respond when there seems to be a disconnect between our mind, which wants to serve God, and our heart, which lacks the desire?

Sisters, I don’t want you to hear shame. God has given us his Word to show us Himself. If the Israelites, who saw miracle after miracle from God, can fall into unbelief and disobedience, we are also not immune. But it’s important to note that we cannot just look at the sin itself, but also the underlying hardness of heart and unbelief that led to the sin. What is it that they did not believe about God that led to their sin? What do we doubt or misunderstand about God that leads us to sin and hardness of heart? 

Something else to notice about this passage is its frequent mention of “today.” Following Jesus is a day to day task. Jesus goes as far as to say, “If your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away (Matthew 18:9, NIV).” It takes daily perseverance to abstain from the seemingly small things that cause our hearts to stray and doubt, whether that be books, movies, or podcasts that set our hearts on worldly desires, resent the things that we have or have not received in life or the gossip and slander of those whom God created. Just know that this is how the spiral of sin occurs so that we can be on guard about anything that may cause us to stray.

For those who want their desire for God restored, understand that the entire Bible contains stories of people who fall into sin and are met with the grace of God. 

For those who are currently in this place, there is hope. We have Jesus as a great high priest. And, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV). He understands your struggle. He knows. And He will meet us with mercy when we call on him for help to surrender the sin and struggles that so easily entangle. 

For whatever specific thing that is causing you to stumble, memorize a couple of verses or passages that point you toward Christ and say them out loud often as you go about your day. This is a helpful way to meditate on Scripture. Surround yourself with other believers who can encourage you to continue moving forward. Seek Jesus. Read His Word. Call on Him in prayer, even if you feel empty. Jesus himself said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV). Friends, He is faithful to His promise.