Cause and Cure For Spiritual Misery

    In his book, Spiritual Depression, Martyn Lloyd-Jones talks about miserable Christians and the reasons for their misery. We have, to varying degrees, experienced spiritual dryness. We continue go to church, pray, and serve but so lacking in passion and joy. What could be the possible causes of this condition?

Take a look at this list and see if any of these hold true in your life:

1. You have no clear understanding of the gospel

You know that Jesus is Lord and Savior but you do not see how he is Lord and Savior. You are not clear about the absolute necessity of the death of Christ. Neither are you clear about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth. You talk about these things yet you find that they are confusing. You are familiar with them yet you cannot truly see the truth about who you are in Jesus Christ.

2. Your heart is not fully engaged.

Though you pray and have read the Bible, you do not find happiness in Christianity and in the Christian position. You are not moved by it. You do not find joy in it. You find joy, if any, somewhere else. 

3. Your will is divided.

You renounce the old life and embrace the Christian life in general. Yet you find that Christianity constricting. Why does a Christian have to do certain things and stop doing others? You start arguing whether it is right for a Christian to do this or that. As a result there is no peace in the realm of the will.

The root of all these, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is never fully accepting the teaching and authority of Scriptures. How great a tragedy it is to read the Bible but not knowing the truth contained in it and not applying its teachings in all of life. You embrace some of the Biblical teachings but continue to live portions of your life according to other ideas and philosophies from the world. You are not interested in doctrine and thus miss the truth contained in Scripture. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says,

"It is the doctrine that hurts, it is the doctrine that focuses things. It is one thing to look at pictures and to be interested in words and shades of meaning. That does not disturb, that does not focus attention on sin, nor call for a decision. We can sit back and enjoy that but doctrine speaks to us and insists upon a decision. This is truth, and it examines us and tries us and forces us to examine ourselves. So, if we start by objecting to doctrine as such, it is surprising that we do not see clearly."

A lack of harmony among musical notes turns music to noise that is painful to the ears. In the same way, spiritual misery comes because a tension exists in our lives resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements.

    So surrender yourself to God. Submit fully to the authority of Scriptures. Hold on to its teachings and promises. Believe in the truth contained in it. Don't mix anything to them. Then you will see clearly. Then you will have passion and joy in your spiritual life.

    Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with this question, "Do you believe that the Son of God came from heaven and lived and did all He did on earth, that He died on a Cross and was buried and rose again, that He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, in order to leave us in a state of confusion?" The answer, of course, is no! Jesus did not come to give us misery. He came to save us from our sins and give us life and have it more abundantly.