Check out the featured post and read more here: https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/when-doing-for-god-replaces-being-with-him.html
It’s been a year and a half since I left teaching to write full-time. According to Google, that’s 18 months and 2 weeks. Talk about quite a stretch of time.
Over the past few months, I’ve worked harder than I thought possible. I’ve always known that I love to write, but getting to speak, podcast, travel, and discuss faith and mental health is what I’ve imagined for decades. It’s beautiful, fulfilling, and messy. It has highs and lows. It’s everything I’m called to do. And yet, I often find myself searching for something more. Not in the world around me, but something within me. I wonder if you can relate.
Sometimes, those of us who serve the Lord the most wind up feeling spiritually empty inside. And if we love God, then why do we feel so distant from Him? I don’t know the answer for you, but for myself, I know it’s because I’ve often replaced what I do for Jesus with my close, intimate, and personal relationship with Him. I haven’t meant to, but before I know it, I’ve slipped into this dark space. This isn’t a confession of condemnation or guilt, but simply awareness and redirection.
How Doing for God Can Replace Being with God
If you’ve found yourself in this place, I want you to know that you’re not alone. The subtle shift from relationship to responsibility happens to the best of us, even when we have good intentions in mind. But when faith becomes a checklist instead of a connection, we need to hit pause and re-evaluate. How can you know if you’ve fallen into this place? Here are some signs you might be replacing doing good for being with God:
1. Guilt-driven prayer: Instead of praying because you want to talk to God, you feel an immense pressure and responsibility to do so. You fear that if you forget or slack off, God will be mad at you and you will be called a fake Christian.
2. Monotonous prayer: Instead of praying because you delight in the Lord, you pray because you know it’s what you’re supposed to do. You repeat the same words without a thought, and try to get through the routine as quickly as you can. It’s more about routine than your heart. This happens to me a lot, especially if I’m not careful or intentional with my prayers!
3. Measuring faith by productivity: While faith includes good works, it’s wrong to measure our faith by what we do. If we could save ourselves by what we do, Jesus would’ve never needed to come. But that’s not the case or the truth. Being productive for the kingdom of God is good. And yet, God doesn’t ask us to overwork ourselves. Psalm 127:2 says it this way: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves” (NIV). We don’t need to feel anxious about “doing enough,” because we’re saved by grace through faith.