When You Lack Vigour

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy"

                          - Psalm 28:7

When I was at a Presbyterian ministers' conference in Indiana, I had time to walk along the paths that meandered through the hills and around the conference center's property. On one of my walks I saw that a plastic bag had been blown onto a vine near one of the paths. As I reached to pick up the bag, I looked down and noticed something peculiar about the vine—the first 10-12 inches coming out of the ground was completely covered with moss.

I thought about that moss-covered vine, and all the other moss I saw growing on dead logs and at the roots of trees. I wondered, “Is moss bad for a tree?” So I did what any self-respecting person living in the 21^st century would do: I asked Siri.

Siri directed me to a British horticultural society website, which gave me a very reassuring answer to my question. 

“Algae, lichens and moss often form green ...growths on the stems, branches, and trunks of trees and shrubs. While this can worry gardeners, these growths are harmless, although may occasionally indicate a lack of vigour in the affected plant.” (Royal Horticultural Society website, rhs.org.uk).

Now, stay with me—I'm sure you're wondering how I am going to take a story about moss and apply it to our spiritual lives. There is a point. I promise.

So, no longer concerned with any ill effects of moss, my attention was now drawn to that last phrase which says moss “may indicate a lack of vigour in the affected plant.”

Lack of vigour (the word just looks more serious with the British spelling).

Does that phrase ever describe your spiritual life, your relationship with God? I know that I go through periods of my life when my faith suffers from a lack of vigour. Sometimes people get burned out; their vigour has all been spent, and they have no reserves. Sometimes people stop engaging with God altogether—they don't pray, they don't read the Bible, they don't go to church—and they find that they have no vigour for the things of God. Sometimes people are like the seed which Jesus describes in the parable—the seed sown among the thorns; the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out their lives, their vigour. Sometimes the vigour wanes because of we are overwhelmed with life, and depression and despair take over.

Does the phrase “lack of vigour” ever describe your faith, your relationship with God? If so, know that you're not alone; it's something that happens to most of us. Also know this: “lack of vigour” doesn't have to be a permanent description.

Whenever I have found myself with waning spiritual vigour, I have found it helpful to go back to the basics: prayer, God's word (especially the psalms), worship, and Christian fellowship. As I recalibrate my heart back to God at my center, I experience more and more the truth of the psalmist when he declares, “The Lord is my strength (i.e., vigour) and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)

Another thing that will help you re-invigourate your faith is Christian action. Go out and do something tangible. Serve a meal at the local soup kitchen. Volunteer at your community homeless shelter (if your community has one). Help a child learn to read after school. Advocate for justice in your community. Faith is not a work, but faith does work. And if your faith isn't working, then you will lack vigour.

This takes determination and perseverance. One. day. at. a. time.

But your vigour will return. You probably did not lose your vigour overnight; don't expect your tank to be full right away. It will take time. But your vigour will return. And you will be able to confess, along with Paul—but more importantly, along with all the believers who have discovered it in their own experience of perseverance—“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Indeed, I can do all things through Christ, who gives me vigour.

Amen.