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January 3, 2012When the Passion Fades
Is this a sign that God wants us to quit?
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I’m in the midst of leading a project I don’t feel particularly passionate about. It didn’t start out this way. I launched into it with great enthusiasm. I was confident I was following God’s will by pursuing the project, but as time has passed and I’ve grown less enamored with it, I’m wondering whether I misread the signs.
Truth be told, the project isn’t meeting my expectations. I feel defeated that it’s not as successful as it ought to be. In essence, my interest is waning because it doesn’t feel worth my time. My ebbing interest makes me wonder: Is passion always an indicator of God’s will? I’m pretty sure that God has called people to things they weren’t necessarily passionate about. I’m sure they felt defeated and unsuccessful too. (Insert Moses, David, or nearly any biblical character you can think of as a prime example.)
Why do we do this then? Why do we equate passion—or a lack of it—with God’s will or plan for our lives? Why do we so easily throw in the towel when we lose passion? Why are we quick to walk away from a job or project when we find ourselves a little defeated?
I see this a lot in ministry work (I’m guilty of it myself)——wondering if I’m doing the right thing on those days when everything seems to be going wrong. Recently I had to make a very unpopular decision that resulted in a lot of questions, accusations and long conversations. It would have been far easier to have not made the decision, but I knew that it was what God was leading me to do. Navigating this issue wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t even confident that it would bring about the change I hoped for. But I sensed that it was the right thing.
God’s will doesn’t mean endless passion or constant success. God’s will is that we live out his plan for our life. And his plan isn’t always warm and fuzzy or fun. Sometimes living out God’s will is hard work. Sometimes living out God’s will means pushing through when you don’t have an ounce of passion, but others are counting on you.
Are you struggling to embrace what he’s given you to do? When I feel this way, I’m often reminded of my favorite scripture from Galatians 6:4:“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that” (The Message).
On the good days and on the bad days remember what he’s gifted and called you to, and sink yourself into it!
Jenni Catron is a contributing editor for GiftedforLeadership.com. She serves as executive pastor of Cross Point churches in the Nashville area.
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Comments
Great article! Sometimes as humans we feel as if what God gives us to always make us flutter. But the truth is that their will be moments of difficulty or moments of being misunderstood. However, the key it knowing that God has called you to do that specific thing. When he is in it, there's always strength for it.
Posted By: Alverna | January 6, 2012 9:14 AM
Jenni, this is so true. I remember the first time I lost my passion for leading women's ministry. I just thought God was done with me in that area of service. I even began making plans for the change, but in seeking God He never would let me leave where I was serving. But during that time of desperation for Him when nothing was making sense nor did anything seem to be getting accomplished, He brought me to a new level of trust with Him and dependence. I remember one older man who worked on the same floor I was on saying, "God doesn't always call us to be fulfilled but He calls us to be faithful." I went to talk to him about it and walked away understanding what you are saying here about obedience even if the passion is not there. I believe in time, when we are faithful and obedient, we will ultimately be fulfilled in the eternal scheme of things, and that God brings back the passion in one way or the other, assuring us He's not done with us yet, OR He will move us into another way of doing ministry He has called us to do. Thanks for sharing this great post. I am going to blog and link to it!
Posted By: Chris Adams | January 6, 2012 12:11 PM
Thank you for this encouraging post. It is good to be reminded that passion or lack of passion doesn't equal God's will. We grow when we work through our lack or loss of passion, don't we?
Posted By: Sharon | January 8, 2012 7:45 AM
What a timely article. I think it is God sent. Over the past week I have been at the verge of quitting and for reasons that made me wonder, could I still be within God's call considering the turn of events. The Lord has restored peace in my heart and onward christian soldier I remain.
Posted By: Jennifer | January 11, 2012 7:15 AM