Inspired by an article in Premier Christianity Magasine September 2025 pages 58ff.
(This is where the story below happened – a long time before the photograph was taken.)
No one likes getting stuck
In 1966, we moved into a brand-new house. The garden was empty of plants, shrubs or lawn. It was a muddy mess. I was five years old. Guess what a five-year-old boy wants to do when he sees a muddy mess? Yes, of course, he wants to run into the middle of it. I put on my Wellington boots and made my way into the garden. I ran into the muddy mess. You can guess what happened next, can’t you? My left boot got stuck deeper in the mud than my right one. My little five-year-old legs did not have enough strength to pull it out. I strained harder and harder. Eventually, the leg came free, and the foot came out, but left the Wellington boot in the mud. I tottered on my right leg for a moment before my father scooped me up, thankfully, before I could fall flat on my face in the mud.
Are you currently stuck in some not-so-spiritual mud? Do you need your heavenly father to step in and rescue you? Let me share two areas that can help.
1-1 conversations
We could talk about Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus and the Samaritan woman, Philip and the Ethiopian or Aquila and Priscilla with Apollos. However, let’s consider the iron-sharpening-iron conversation between David and Nathan.
“…and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meagre fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveller to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.” 2 Samuel 12.1–14
David had a significant spiritual problem. He was deep in sin—adultery, deceit, and murder—and spiritually hardened. Nathan confronted him privately. David repented and returned to righteousness (see Psalm 51). Sometimes only a direct, personal confrontation awakens a spiritually stuck heart.
Do you need a conversation like this? The causes of your stuckness might not be as dramatic as David’s, but perhaps an honest conversation will make all the difference.
Refreshing spiritual practices
I dare say you have your helpful spiritual habits. However, when we are stuck, it’s a good opportunity to either return to some spiritual practices we have neglected or try some new ones. Have a look at the list below and give at least one of them a go if you’ve not been doing them already.
- Lectio Divina (praying with the Scriptures). See the linked article here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/lectio-divina-praying-with-the-scriptures/
- Solitude. See the linked article here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/solitude-is-golden-a-review-of-thoughts-in-solitude-by-thomas-merton/
- Meditative prayer. You might like to try an example here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-3-minute-prayer-meditation-on-psalm-42/
- Praying prayers in Scripture. You may find Rolan Monje’s guest blog on my website useful: https://www.malcolmcox.org/guest-blog-post-by-rolan-monje-prayers-in-the-bible/
- Others: Fasting; Confession; Worship; Meditating on the cross; Serving in secret.
The point is not so much which one we practice, but taking a step of faith and trying something.
So, what will it be? What will God use to help you revitalise your faith? Is it an honest conversation with a trusted friend? Or engaging in one of the spiritual practices above? Or both?
Let me know how you get on. I’d love to hear from you.
Your brother, Malcolm
