This Could Be Why You're Stuck
Can I tell you a secret?
I was not okay when I retired from professional baseball.
Yes, I gave up on a dream. Yes, I had to change careers. Yes, I missed my teammates. Yes, to all of that and more.
But none of those are the reason I wasn’t okay.
The reason I wasn’t okay was because I lost my god.
I became a Christian as a college freshman and would have told you from that day forward that I didn’t have an idol of baseball. Practically speaking, this was true. I sought the Lord through His Word. I spent time in prayer. I went to church. I made decisions based on God’s Word. I really was following Jesus.
However, things were happening deep down in my heart that I didn’t realize at the time.
I remember a specific moment during my freshman year when I was dealing with some relationship issues. I was lying on the trainer's table and thought, “Well, today has been bad. But at least I have baseball.”
“At least I have baseball.”
All was right in the world because at least I have baseball.
Do you want to know how to easily spot an idol in your life?
What’s the thing that you have to have in order to be “okay?”
Do you need to have everything in order at your job or you’re not okay? Then order and stability might be your god.
Do you need to have your favorite sports team performing well or you’re not okay? Then that team may be your god.
Do you need to have everything going smoothly with your kids or you're not okay? Then your kids may be your god.
Do you need everything to be prim and proper in your family or you’re not okay? Then appearances may be your god.
We can say we worship God all we want to, but when our mood, our joy, our peace, and our overall well-being depends on something other than God it’s an indicator that thing might have corners of our heart we're not willing to give to God.
Which is in direct contradiction to the first commandment:
And God spoke all these words. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”
—Exodus 20:1-3
Very practically speaking, a relationship with God and the Holy Spirit living inside of us gives us the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
If something, or someone, has the power to take any of those away from you, that thing or person may be an idol.
If we can’t fathom having peace because of the political climate, politics may be our god.
If we can’t move through life with joy in any way because of our financial situation, finances may be our god.
If we can’t be gentle with anyone around us because of our job status, an “easy” work life may be our god.
I could go on, and on, and on with situations but the point remains:
Worshipping God and worshipping idols is incompatible. We will forever remain stuck or lifeless in our relationship with God until we repent of holding other gods before Him.
This is a valuable question to ask regardless, but especially so if you feel disconnected with God. Do you have an idol? Are you placing other gods before Him? You may not have set up a statue in your house, but have you set up a little corner in your heart that holds onto something more than it holds onto God?
Sometimes it's hard to know if we have idols, but we can ask God to show us if we do. This prayer is found in Psalm 139. Pray it and let God lead you.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
—Psalm 139:23-24
-Brandon Moore, Dean of Spiritual Development & 10th Grade Bible Teacher