When your spiritual footing feels shaky, don’t ignore the warning signs. One pastor shares how repentance, discipline, and God’s Word helped him climb out of a deep season of discouragement.



In June, I wrote that I had reached a tipping point: I no longer wanted to pastor anymore, and I wasn't sure why. Looking back, I don't believe that it had to do with stress as much as discouragement.

The Fruit of Repentance or the Pain of Regret
If you are currently standing on a landmine, or if the explosion has already taken place, take time now and repent while you have the chance. It will hurt, but the fruit of repentance far outweighs the fruit of exposure that will surely come (cf. Num. 32:23). A penitent person turns from sin. They accept full responsibility for their actions without blame, resentment, or bitterness. They seek forgiveness without conditions and stipulations. They take full responsibility for their actions. There can be no "buts" when repentance is genuine. "I am sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me" are often (though not always) healing words and signs of true repentance.

In my case, excuses were clouding my spiritual vision. Excuses need to stop in order for healing to occur, and this is where we must begin.

Pulling Out of the Tailspin
After nearly 15 years of pastoring and 25 years in ministry, I was getting older and life was flying by — a true midlife crisis. How did I pull out of this tailspin? Here's how:

First, despite how I felt, I prayed for strength and pressed into God even more. Perseverance is a key biblical principle that will produce godly fruit — period. Regardless of how I felt, I knew that if I sought Him, I would eventually find Him (Jer. 29:13). The truth was my anchor, not my feelings.

Christians should be the most joy-filled people on the planet, and I knew I had to repent for being disgruntled and discouraged. This vital step was key to my breakthrough. We know that God is everywhere, but there's something profound when we can literally sense His presence and power working in our lives — when we are spiritually energized and focused. Healing takes time, so I set my mind on the long haul, beginning with thankfulness.

I also consistently prayed Psalm 90:12 to teach me to prioritize my days and acquire wisdom. I asked God to teach me what I'm supposed to be learning through this trial so I can make better choices and prepare for the next step. We must ask for wisdom, and according to James 1:5, God will grant us that request as long as we don't doubt and complain during the process.

Don't Overlook This Key Area
The second step to freedom was a renewed focus on physical health and discipline. Because I was consuming too much food throughout the day in an attempt to deal with my discouragement, I was also paying the price physically. I knew that I had to focus more on my physical health as well as self-discipline, because the physical often affects the spiritual.

Can you pray and seek God better with a headache, tight clothes, and a very sluggish and lethargic body? Of course not. What you put in the mouth [body] and the mind [soul] affects the spirit. For example, a person may say, "Please pray for my panic attacks, angry outbursts, and anxiety." We can do that, but they may want to consider if what they're eating and drinking is contributing to their anxiety. Again, the physical affects the spiritual.

The Sin I Rarely Preached On
For instance, once I minimized caffeine consumption, I eventually started to feel better, even though the strong withdrawals initially added to my depression. It shows just how powerful caffeine is. I know that many won't want to hear that, but it's the truth (moderation may be okay, but very few use it in moderation). I also began to consume less food and incorporated a smaller eating window. I preached about other sins, but rarely touched on the sacred cow of gluttony.

During this time, Proverbs 25:28 really jumped out to me: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." First Corinthians 9:25 reminded me that Christians are to exercise self-control. Although I've always been active, I had grown complacent, and it was time to up my game and become more active. I began to make phone calls while walking instead of sitting at my desk. This simple change added a great deal of discipline to my life, which helped me feel better both physically and spiritually. We must control our appetites rather than allow our appetites to control us.

The Reward Outweighs the Cost
Keep in mind that I still deal with difficult seasons (and you will too); they are part of our fallen nature, but now they are an occasional struggle rather than a constant challenge. The road is still rough, but at least my feet are secure. Take time today and repent of discouragement if warranted, and focus again on discipline. Trust me, the reward far outweighs the cost.

Note: If you also struggle with your diet and weight-loss, you can download all of my biblically-based books on health and fitness here. You can also visit my YouTube channel for more teachings on this important topic here.

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