Spiritual Resistance: Why Progress Gets Harder When You're on the Right Pathಮಾದರಿ

My first instinct when facing spiritual resistance is to try harder. I make new commitments, create ambitious Bible reading plans, set prayer timers, and essentially attempt to discipline myself back to spiritual vitality. You may have tried the same approach.

However, here's what I've learned through years of struggling with this strategy: We cannot overcome acedia through willpower alone.

Our battle against spiritual resistance isn’t fought through discipline only. It's a spiritual conflict that requires spiritual power! The Apostle Peter makes this abundantly clear in 2 Peter 1:3-4: "His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

Notice Peter doesn't say, "Your determination and spiritual disciplines will give you everything required for life and godliness." Instead, he points to "His divine power" as the source of our spiritual vitality.

Some view this reliance on God's power as a weakness. I've had people tell me, "Your faith is just a crutch." To which I now readily respond, "Yes! I am weaker than you think. I am less competent than you imagine. I am more vulnerable than I appear."

The Desert Fathers and Mothers were unable to overcome acedia through their strength, despite their extraordinary commitment. What makes me think I can?

The truth is, Satan is stronger than you and me. He's been in this battle longer. He's more cunning, and he's relentlessly focused on derailing our spiritual progress. But – and this is crucial – while Satan is stronger than us, he is not stronger than Jesus.

Consider what happened to Paul. After pleading with God three times to remove his "thorn in the flesh,” God said no. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). God's power isn't a nice supplement to our spiritual efforts; it's the essential source of our spiritual life.

In practical terms, this means that our first response to acedia should be surrender rather than striving. When you feel that spiritual resistance rising – the lack of motivation to pray, the emptiness when reading Scripture, the hesitation to serve – your initial move should be to acknowledge your weakness and invite God's power.

Try praying something like this: "God, I can’t do this on my own. I need your power. Fill me with your Spirit and help me to keep going."

This prayer doesn't mean we have no part to play in the battle against acedia. In fact, on Day 4, we will examine the specific effort that Peter calls us to make. But that effort must flow from a place of reliance on God's power, not our own.

Before we end today, take a moment to identify where you've been trying to fight spiritual battles in your strength. Surrender those areas to God and invite His power to work through your weakness.

Remember, the path forward isn't found in trying harder but in trusting deeper. I’ll see you tomorrow as we learn how God’s grace and our effort work together.