The Common Struggle with Spiritual Tension

We passed an important milestone on January 10, 2025: Quitter’s Day. Quitter's Day is a day to recognize the tensions we feel when trying to stick to our New Year's resolutions. As much as we want to live disciplined lives, we struggle to stay on track. And when it comes to spiritual disciplines, this brings to many of us a relentless tension. 

As Christians, we believe God has accepted us by grace, but our relationship to spiritual disciplines tells a different story. Many of us feel pressure to prove ourselves through Bible reading, prayer, evangelism, and the like. Do you feel this like I do?

Certainly, these feelings of tension are common to man (1 Cor. 10:13). Often we place an all-or-nothing emphasis on our spiritual resolutions, which inevitably leads to discouragement when we fail to meet our own expectations. You might notice this in your life, whenever you miss your daily quiet-time, or when you simply don't feel like completing your spiritual disciplines.

The Hope of the Gospel in Our Journey

A stronger understanding of the Gospel will reshape our view of the spiritual tension we feel. Jesus' Gospel brings us an announcement of good news, not a list of tasks to perform. The brighter God's grace shines over our spiritual disciplines, the less burden we will feel (Eph. 2:8-9). Instead of saying to ourselves, "You better keep these habits or God is going to get you," we must hear the good news, "You can do these things without tension because God already has you, and he's never going to let you go. You see, this focus on our finished redemption changes our relationship to spiritual disciplines (Gal. 2:20). The Gospel transforms them from ways to earn God's grace to expressions of our gratitude for his favor (Rom. 12:1). 

Adopted children sometimes feel this way about their new parents. They must keep the rules to stay in favor with Mom and Dad. But the reality remains that their loving adoption, not their performance, guarantees the favor they enjoy. In a spiritual way, we need a shift to this Gospel-focused relationship with our spiritual lives (Col. 3:2).

We Need Practical Strategies to Address the Tension

In addition to a refocusing of our minds, some practical changes can help us lower the tension and increase the joy of spiritual disciplines. I'll list a few, and you might find they prompt others in your mind.¹

1. Simplify your plan for spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, fasting, evangelism, etc. Many of us fall under the defeat of "quitter's day," because we have taken on too great a task at the start. Instead of setting out to read the whole Bible in a year, aim to read just the New Testament or the Psalms. If you're drawn to thinking that's weak, you're still missing the point. Spiritual disciplines are not about providing strength but about seeking God in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

2. Become a student of your own heart. Can you recognize when the anxious tension of spiritual burden rises in your heart (Phil. 4:6-7)? Can you identify the signs of a racing heart, a downcast spirit, or feelings of inferiority when compared to your thriving friends? The more you can be a student of yourself, the better equipped you will become to address these tensions. 

3. Confide in a wise and loving friend. Like me, you might feel pressure to keep up the façade so people will hold you in higher esteem. Instead, we must be honest with our friends so they can give us the Gospel assurances we need (Gal. 6:2). And you know what you'll find? Your friends feel the same tensions, and they need your assurance too.

As we continue in this new year, let's keep in mind our spiritual disciplines are not measures of our worth, but gracious gifts given to deepen our relationship with a God who loves us as we are (1 John 4:19).

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1. For further reference: Weekly Card for Growth, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.  ↩︎