RESET

Reset

We have been through a lot over the last two years. We have aged. We have grayed. And yes, many of us have transitioned. A lot has changed, but one thing remains the same.

Many of the processes we used in the past don’t make sense anymore…

Before COVID, we passed out paper bulletins.

Now our bulletins are electronic.

Before COVID, we used communion trays.

Now, everyone picks up communion kits at the door.

We used to pass offering baskets. Now, 75 percent of the congregation gives online.

These changes were out of necessity. We have had to adjust to our new reality. A lot has changed, but one thing remains the same.

In the midst of all that we’ve been through, I believe we need to reset our faith.

John 16:29–33 NLT

29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

A lot has changed, but one thing remains the same. There’s still peace in Jesus!

Today, we are going to begin a reset of our faith! What do you mean?

When your computer slows down to a crawl, what do we do? Reset it!

When your phone gets stuck, what do you do? Reset it!

When the air condition in your car isn’t cooling properly, what do we do first? Reset it!

Likewise, we have been in this pandemic for two years. Some of our kids have grown literally a foot taller since all of this started. And while we have been able to hold on to the bulk of the congregation, some have drifted. Why? Because, no doubt some need a reset.

Despite our best efforts, there comes a time in the life of every believer when we will need to hit the reset button on our faith.

It does not matter how long you have been walking with the Lord because tests of life happen to all of us.

John 16:33 NLT

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Trouble is not always the terrible, hard stuff life can throw at us.

Throughout this process, the wear and tear of life can begin to pull on our faith. When we come to a point where we realize our faith needs a reset, it is not something we should be embarrassed about or feel shame over.

God does not look at us as if we failed in our faith, nor does he condemn us because we may need to realign ourselves spiritually.

The troubles of life will require all of us to keep hitting reset on our faith for as long as we live.

Four seasons make up a year.

Along our Christian journey, we will experience being in a spiritual rut, hitting a faith wall, or even feeling like we are in a pit. God allows us to go through many different seasons because all are necessary to our spiritual growth and development.

James 1:2–4 NLT

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

You may be wondering if you need a reset on your faith in your current life season. I want to offer you five signs that indicate it is time to answer “yes” to taking some faith actions and hit the reset button on your faith.

1. You are tired all of the time.

If you are at a point where you constantly feel tired no matter what you do to try and make yourself not feel this way, you probably need to hit reset on your faith. Perpetually being tired indicates that not only has your body grown weary, but so has your soul. Resetting your faith in this way is not limited to physical rest but also includes soul rest. It is not God’s design that we live our lives depleted and still running on empty. If you have experienced burnout over a prolonged period, then this is your invitation to hit the reset button now.

Psalm 63:1 NLT

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Matthew 11:28–30 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

2. You are too busy to spend time with God.

Who is not busy? Everyone, on some level, has a busy lifestyle. What is more important than being busy, however, is being fruitful. Godly fruitfulness causes us to bear favorable evidence of our productivity. As Christians, we want to be sure we are producing the right fruit.

Proverbs 1:24–28 ESV

24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

We can expect our faith to suffer if we have invested our time pursuing people, places, and things in our garden of life but not made time to be with God. If we are too busy to spend time with God consistently, then we are just way too busy!

3. You are consistently pessimistic.

If you notice yourself turning into Negative Nancy, it may be time for you to reach for the button and hit reset on your faith. When our first reaction is to have a pessimistic outlook about everything, we should stop and question why we are responding in this manner. Faith causes believers to be hopeful because Jesus is our hope.

Luke 5:1–7 NLT

1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

APPLICATION

Reflect on your current situation.

The next step is to consider where you are right now.

Take some time to reflect on all areas of your life.

Think about your relationships, your job, your financial situation, your health…  You need to be honest with yourself about where the problems are, and what the main things you need to focus on are.

Spiritually, we need a reset as a church!

What do we need you to do?

Show up on Wednesday and Sunday. Move things around in your life and get here. Reflect on your life spiritually. Are you just going through the motions?

Pray for me. I will be in a hermitage this week—deep prayer, reflection, planning, studying.