Overcoming the Doldrums
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Near the equator, there is a band of waters that is known as Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ or “the itch). This is where the prevailing trade winds from the Northern Hemisphere which are blowing southwest collide with the winds from the Southern Hemisphere which are blowing northeast. Due to intense solar heating near the equator, the warm, moist air is forced up into the atmosphere like a hot air balloon. As the air rises, it cools, causing persistent bands of showers and storms around the Earth’s midsection. It also results in almost no wind in this area. For many centuries, sailors have called this area “the doldrums.” Sailboats can be stuck in this area for weeks waiting for a wind to come up.
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit of God is represented by the wind. Jesus told Nicodemus about this:
8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
It is the Holy Spirit that leads men and women to the cross. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are born again and it is through the Spirit that our spiritual lives are sustained. As children of God, we are dependent on the Spirit of God as it blows through our lives. I can’t live a day without the Holy Spirit. I’m sure that’s your testimony too. But what do we do when the wind isn’t blowing? When it seems that we haven’t heard from God in a while...maybe a long while?
1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless.
2 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
And I will multiply you exceedingly.”
At the end of chapter 16, Abraham was 86. He is now 99. Thirteen years have passed with no word from God.
Abraham was holding on to a promise that had yet to be fulfilled...for 24 years!
I believe that what God commanded Abraham to do here was what he had already been doing. “Walk before Me, and be blameless.”
Reasons for “The Doldrums”
One reason can be disobedience
It is important that when we go for a long while without hearing from God that we search our own hearts. Am I in disobedience? Has He told me to do something and I am resisting it?
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
“Hurtful” hear can mean “idolatrous.” Do I have any hidden idols in my heart?
Another reason that we find ourselves in “the doldrums” is that we have allowed the busyness of the world to overtake us. We aren’t spending time in God’s word daily. We aren’t having a consistent quiet time with God. Without that time, we will dry up spiritually!
It is ironic but true that when we allow the “winds” of our natural life to blow too much, the “wind” of the Holy Spirit may not be able to break through.
However, it is possible that none of these things are true and yet we may go through periods of our lives when we haven’t heard from God in a while...maybe in a long while. Abraham, though not perfect, had walked in integrity for 13 years, yet no word from God.
David Guzik:
“All these thirteen years, so far as Scripture informs us, Abram had not a single visit from his God. We do not find any record of his either doing anything memorable or having so much as a single audience with the Most High.” (Spurgeon)
Abram was becoming a great man of faith, but great faith isn’t created overnight. It takes years of God’s work, years of almost mundane trusting in God, perhaps interrupted with a few spectacular encounters with the Lord.
We are going to find that the Lord uses “The Doldrums” to discipline us. He is trying us to see what we are made of!
I need to say here that just because that we have not heard from God in a long time doesn’t mean that He is not working. He is always working. He is always moving. It is just that in our little experience, we can’t see it at the time. That is why we are called to walk by faith.
So what do we do when we find ourselves in “the doldrums?” When we’ve searched our hearts and to the best of our knowledge, we are not in disobedience and we can truly say that we have been seeking God every day and not allowed the busyness of this world to crowd Him out?
10 Who is among you that fears the Lord,
That obeys the voice of His servant,
That walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
We can’t allow ourselves to become discouraged. We must trust in Him and rely on Him every day.
We must encourage ourselves in the Lord!
6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
The spirit of timidity will keep us in the doldrums. We must “kindle afresh” or (as in KJV) “stir up” the gift of God that is in us.
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
We must remind ourselves that the throne room of God is always open. There is a new and living way that He has inaugurated through His blood.
We must remind ourselves that Jesus is indeed our great high priest. He is making intercession for us before the father every day!
1st “Let Us”
22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
We must daily remind ourselves that our hearts have been sprinkled by his blood (inward cleansing) and our bodies washed with the pure water of God’s Holy Spirit (outward cleansing)! “Let us draw near!”
2nd “Let Us”
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
“Let us hold fast!” Let’s not lose what we have been given. This involves much review. We must remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God in our lives!
Later in the chapter...
35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
This confidence means “cheerful courage, boldness, assurance.” We have been given it...Don’t throw it away!
“Endurance” (Gr Hupomone) - literally “an abiding under” (also translating “perseverence”) means “cheerful (or hopeful) constancy...steadfastness.” “the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety (or holiness) by even the greatest trials and suffering.”
Abraham had done the will of God...but had to wait 13 years to hear from God.
David had done the will of God...but had to endure 10 years in the wilderness fleeing from his enemy King Saul.
Jesus had certainly done the will of God...but had to endure all the agony of the cross.
3rd “Let Us”
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
One great way to get ourselves out the doldrums is to begin to encourage others. We need to get our minds off of ourselves! You say you don’t feel like it, SO WHAT! Act encourage and you will soon be encouraged!
Make the phone call.
Send the text.
Write the note.
Ask God, “Who can I encourage today?”
BE PROACTIVE! We don’t have to have a leading from God to encourage others!
One sure-fire way to keep yourselves in “the doldrums” is to stop doing any of this. Stop coming to church. Pull yourself away from all sources of help.
(Story of the preacher and the member who hadn’t attended in awhile)
Streams In The Desert Devotional
Beloved, never try to get out a dark place except in God’s timing and in His way. A time of trouble and darkness is meant to teach you lessons you desperately need...Commit the entire situation to Him, and be willing to abide in darkness, knowing He is present. Remember, it is better to walk in the dark with God than to walk alone in the light...
Stop interfering with God’s plans and with His will. Touching anything of His mars the work. Moving the hands of the clock to suit you does not change the time. You can force a rosebud open, but you will spoil the flower. Leave everything to Him, without exception.”
Consider Jesus!
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Do not grow weary and lose heart! Your time of deliverance will surely come!
