Drifting… “it takes you away from where you want to be.”
Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. (Hebrews 2.1)
The dictionary defines “drifting” as
“1. an act or instance of being driven or carried along, as by a current of air or water or by circumstances. 2. a) a gradual shifting in position b) a random course, variation, or deviation.”
Drifting is also the movement of women and men who have lost touch with their God, their relationships, their vision, their convictions, and their priorities. It is a malaise that afflicts everyone when we continually allow circumstances, urgency, convenience, desires, pride, and disappointment to carry us along. Drifting is tantamount to abdication or surrender because drifters are consigned to “go with the flow.” When we drift we maintain the illusion of authority and responsibility, but in reality, we are simply dismantling our vision, values, priorities, hopes, and dreams to accommodate the current which carries us away. As we drift worship become a mere habit, devotions an empty obligation, inpiration and mission erode and become status quo and mediocrity.
Last week I spent time with a couple of pastors who are drifting. In both cases, they are feeling distant from God (who they believe in) and their wives (whom they love). Some of the tell-tale symptoms of “drifting” were prevalent:
distance from God (“God seems so distant… prayer feels empty… ministry feels pointless… I am leading on auto-pilot”)
distance from their wives and friends: (“My wife and I are not communicating… I feel closer to the people that I work with… Our love life is non-existent… my friendships feel shallow… I don’t connect with anyoneI am starting to go out with coworkers before going home…”
distance from themself: (“I feel so out-of-shape… I need to work out… I feel restless… nothing much seems to satisfy me… I don’t read anymore… nothing inspires me… I never thought I would hear myself say these kinds of things.”)
When I was twelve, my Uncle and I “put out to sea.” After about two hours our engine went dead and we started to drift. He tried everything but to no avail. There were only two things to do: drop anchor and call for help..
When we are drifting, God promises to answer our call (cry?) with His living hope – a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. His hope will secure us and then, like a lifeline, He will pull us into His very presence where Jesus, running ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post (Hebrews 6.19-20).
We all go through seasons when we drift— anyone who tells you she or he hasn’t is lying or dead! You are not alone. You need not drift any farther. Friend, if you are drifting, why not take a moment now to drop your anchor and call out to the Lord to embrace and strengthen you with His living hope.
[Next week I’ll share some insights that have helped this drifter (me) stay on course.]
