Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

Have you ever felt like you’re just “coasting” in your faith? Maybe you’re not exactly running away from God, but you’re not passionately pursuing Him either. It’s a deceptive place to be—a seemingly neutral spiritual zone. But here’s the truth: in our walk with God, there is no neutral. We are either moving toward Him or drifting away from Him. There is no such thing as standing still.

A Subtle Drift

Hebrews 2:1 gives us a sobering reminder: “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Drifting doesn’t happen all at once. It’s subtle. It happens when we get too busy to pray, too distracted to read God’s Word, too tired to worship. Before we know it, the fire has dimmed, and our hearts have grown cold. It wasn’t intentional, but it’s still dangerous.

When we don’t intentionally pursue God, we start filling the void with other things. That void demands to be filled—by comfort, by approval, by relationships, by success, by entertainment. Instead of running to God, we often run to temporary solutions that numb us, distract us, or falsely affirm us. But nothing and no one can ever truly satisfy like Jesus.

What Are You Running Toward?

Ask yourself: What do I run to when life gets hard? Do I run to food, social media, or Netflix for comfort? Do I run to people to validate me instead of seeking my identity in Christ? Do I stay busy so I don’t have to confront what’s really going on in my heart?

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Running to anything else might provide momentary relief, but it doesn’t heal. Only God can restore what’s broken, calm our anxious thoughts, and give us lasting peace.

Moldable or Hardened?

Sometimes, in order to move us back toward Him, God has to apply pressure. He uses what we might see as problems—setbacks, disappointments, and struggles—not to punish us, but to mold us. Think of a sculptor with a hammer and chisel. The raw material doesn’t look like much at first, but the artist sees what it can become.

Isaiah 64:8 says, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” If we are moldable—soft and surrendered—He can shape us into something beautiful. But if we resist, if we harden our hearts, the process becomes more painful.

Still, God doesn’t give up on us. He keeps chiseling away the parts that don’t belong—fear, pride, selfishness, bitterness—until we reflect His image. Every blow from the chisel is driven by His love, not His anger.

Embrace the Process

God’s refining process isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always purposeful. He’s not trying to break you—He’s trying to build you. James 1:2-4 reminds us, “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance… so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Let’s shift our perspective. Instead of resisting the hammer and chisel, let’s thank God for loving us enough to shape us. Let’s welcome the fire that refines rather than destroys. And let’s be intentional in choosing daily to move toward Him.

One Step at a Time

You don’t have to make a giant leap; just take the next right step. Spend five more minutes in prayer. Read one chapter of Scripture today. Turn off the noise and sit in silence with God. Surrender what you’ve been holding back. It’s in these small, faithful steps that we move closer to Him.

Psalm 73:28 says, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge.” There’s no better place to be. Let your heart be moldable, your spirit humble, and your feet swift to run toward the One who never stops pursuing you. I hope this speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!