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

Several years ago, I read an article that described my spiritual state so perfectly that it felt like the author had been reading my journal. “It wasn't burnout – I still had energy. It wasn't depression – I didn't feel hopeless…Languishing felt somewhat joyless and aimless, like I was muddling through my days looking at life through a foggy windshield.”

The article called this state "languishing" – a sense of stagnation and emptiness. And I realized that this perfectly describes what spiritual resistance (acedia) often feels like in our lives.

When acedia strikes, several symptoms typically appear.

Often, we feel an unusual sadness, not the temporary kind that comes from life's disappointments, but a pervasive sadness that seems unattached to specific circumstances. A sense of despair often accompanies this despair about your future with God. You struggle to see hope or possibility ahead.

Over time, we develop a strange disgust with the things of God. Activities that once gave you life and purpose - worship, prayer, serving others, studying Scripture – now feel empty or even repulsive. You find reasons to avoid them rather than engage with them.

Finally, many people battling acedia experience a profound loss of meaning. The big questions surface: "What's the point of all this? Why does any of this matter?" These are not thoughtful philosophical inquiries, but expressions of spiritual weariness.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? If so, you're not alone. Throughout church history, Christians have recognized and battled these exact feelings.

The Desert Fathers and Mothers - those early Christians who pursued God in the Egyptian desert - called acedia "the noonday demon" because it would attack them in the middle of the day as they prayed and fasted. They would suddenly find themselves distracted, unfocused, and struggling to focus on the very spiritual practices they had dedicated their lives to pursuing.

Acedia threatens our spiritual progress in several key ways.

First, acedia sabotages our sanctification—the ongoing process of becoming more like Jesus. Since Satan can't undo our salvation, he seeks to stall our spiritual growth and effectiveness.

Second, acedia attacks our identity and spiritual memories. Like spiritual amnesia, it causes us to forget who we are in Christ and what God has done for us. We begin to act like spiritual orphans rather than children of the King.

I've experienced this myself. During a challenging season in pastoral ministry, I began to forget all the ways God had proven faithful in the past. This memory loss twisted my perspective until I viewed God as distant rather than present, harsh rather than loving. I wondered what I had done wrong and considered quitting my job as a pastor. I didn’t end up quitting, but I learned how powerful these attacks can genuinely be.

Third, acedia induces a feeling of languishing. As the opening quote about it indicated, we feel aimless, joyless, and stuck.

Please take a moment to reflect: Which of these symptoms of acedia do you recognize in your own life right now? Simply naming them can begin to diminish their power. Remember, what you're experiencing isn't unique to you – it's a common struggle for those pursuing Christ.

The good news is that recognizing these symptoms is the first step toward fighting back. On Day 3, we will begin exploring practical ways to combat acedia, starting with the most foundational truth of spiritual warfare.