The Doldrums

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” 
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT 

Parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are affected by the convergence of two belts of trade winds, a low-pressure zone centered slightly north of the equator where the prevailing winds cancel each other out. Sail-powered boats and ships can get stuck in a place of utter stillness for days or weeks at a time. And time seems to move as slow as molasses in July. Some sailors call this area “the desert of the ocean,” because the doldrums are also one of the hottest places on earth. 

But you don’t have to be stuck in the desert of the ocean to experience the doldrums. What can you do when you feel like you’ve lost your passion for the Lord and are hopelessly anchored in a dead calm? 

FAITH CHECK
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. Yet there are times when we find ourselves in a motionless state, exasperated and crying out to God. To get moving again, we need the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit. We need to lift our eyes to heaven, and God will lift our sails and navigate us out of the doldrums of our spiritual lives. 

This month, we are sharing devotions – like this one – from the Sweet Tea for the Soul: Down-Home Devotions to Comfort the Heart! Pick up your copy today at dayspring.com.