Spiritual Weakness: Signs and How to Overcome It

Spiritual weakness is a condition in which we are not very spiritually enthusiastic. If we used to diligently read the Word and pray every morning, lately we have started to feel lazy about doing it. Where we once were eager to evangelize, now it feels like a burden. By contrast, when we are spiritually healthy, we are so eager to build a relationship with God and with others.

What are the signs of spiritual weakness, and how can we overcome it?

Am I Spiritually Weak?

Here are the characteristics of someone who is spiritually weak:

• Avoiding worship gatherings
• Not routinely or no longer having quiet time and praying
• Refusing help
• Unwilling to receive input
• Avoiding communication with a mentor or spiritual community
• Compromising with sin
• Trying to look strong and as if everything is fine, when actually help is needed
• Having negative thoughts toward the church or the people in the congregation
• Not wanting to be asked how you are doing
• Hiding problems and being unwilling to resolve them
• A feeling of shame or insecure about being close to people who are spiritually healthy
• Harboring hurt toward God because of unanswered prayers, a hard life, or a life that does not match expectations, and so on.

Experiencing spiritual weakness is normal. As human beings, there are times when we are strong and times when we are not. So being weak is not something shameful or disgraceful. What we must not allow to continue is being weak for a time that is long or prolonged.

When this happens, we will not only lose our zeal, but also our relationship with God, even our salvation. There are many promises of God that He can give if we remain faithful. Are we willing to lose His amazing promises by letting ourselves remain spiritually weak?

Therefore, when we feel weak, strive to rise up quickly. How?

How to Overcome Spiritual Weakness

1. Ask the Right People for Help

When we are spiritually weak, we need other people's help. However, ask the right people for help, namely those who are stronger and can help you. Avoid going to people merely to vent or to seek justification for your weakness.

If you were sick enough to need hospitalization, of course you would ask a doctor, nurse, or someone who could help care for you. You might wish you could do everything yourself so you would not trouble anyone else. But when you are unhealthy, you would humbly accept the help of others, wouldn't you?

Most people, when they are weak, feel too proud to ask for help. I personally have been in this position. Even though I badly needed help, I was reluctant to ask for it. I preferred to appear strong and fine. Unfortunately, this did not help me.

Indeed, it takes courage to come and ask others for help. However, it is also not good to remain in a weak condition continuously. So do not be ashamed and do not hesitate. There is no human being who has never been weak.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. – Proverbs 12:15 

If you need help from a spiritual community or a mentor, you can contact us (information is listed at the end of the article) to be connected with the nearest community in your city.

2. Confess Sin and Resolve the Problem at Its Root

Usually, people do not become spiritually weak without a cause. It may begin with dislike or conflict with someone that you have not resolved. Perhaps there is a sin you are hiding. Things like this must be brought into the light by confessing sin. Of course, not to just anyone, but to someone we can trust and who can help us.

Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. – James 5:16a

To overcome spiritual weakness, we need to confess our sins and deal with the source of the problem. If there is conflict, resolve it with the person concerned. If there is sin, confess it and leave that sin behind. This stage can be likened to treatment or surgery for a sick person. It is indeed unpleasant and not easy, but afterward we will feel relieved and be healed.

3. Keep Having Quiet Time and Praying

“Watch and pray, so that you do not fall into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41

God knows that our spirit wants to obey, but our flesh is weak. Therefore, before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples to pray, because prayer gives strength.

Prayer is part of our effort to stay watchful so that we do not become weak and fall into temptation. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” If when we are strong we must always pray, how much more when we are spiritually weak—we need to pray even more.

Even though it is hard and we feel reluctant, or there is shame in returning to quiet time and prayer after so long, God wants us to come to Him instead of drawing away. Words like ‘I am not good enough, I am not worthy, I have gone too far from God, I am a sinner,’ and the like are the devil's deception. God always opens His arms to embrace us again.

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28 

Keep praying and having quiet time, because from there you will receive hope, relief, and true strength.

4. Keep Attending Worship Gatherings

Various assumptions, such as shame, feeling unworthy, fear of being asked questions, and fear of other people's opinions, usually make people who are spiritually weak distance themselves from worship gatherings. They are reluctant to join and enjoy fellowship, whether in a small group or in Sunday worship.

Let us not neglect meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as the Day approaches. – Hebrews 10:25 

When you are spiritually weak, attending worship gatherings will actually help you greatly. Through them, God speaks and helps you rise again. If we avoid them, we ourselves will be the ones who lose out. Whatever happens, whether we are strong or weak, let us keep coming to worship gatherings, because that is good for us.

Spiritual weakness is a normal condition that can happen to anyone, and it is not impossible to overcome. Ask the right people for help, confess your sins, and resolve the problem at its root. Do not abandon quiet time, prayer, and your worship gatherings. Remember, there is a full life, promises, rewards, and salvation that God has prepared for us. So fight that weakness and be strong in the Lord! Take heart!

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• Fight for Your Faith to the End
• Break the Habit of Complaining with 3 Right Heart Attitudes
• Growing Through Failure
• Tired of Giving? Here Is How to Overcome It!
• A Meaningful Life: Can I Have It?

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