"rooted To Rise: Flourishing In The Christian Life" Series

B. Languishing: A Season of Struggle and Spiritual Stagnation

“Inside your soul there is a battle between a flourishing self — the person you were created to be — and a languishing self.”- John Ortberg

Languishing reflects a state of weariness, disconnection, or a sense of going through the motions without purpose.

The Bible acknowledges these struggles and provides encouragement:

1. The Danger of Drift:

o “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1)

Spiritual stagnation can occur when we neglect to remain attentive to God’s truth.

2. The Weight of Weariness:

o “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:11)

Imagine you’re walking through an airport, dragging a large suitcase behind you. At first, it doesn’t seem too bad. The wheels are doing most of the work, and you think, “I’ve got this.” But as you walk, the suitcase starts to feel heavier. Maybe it’s the uneven floors or the endless corridors, but your arm starts to ache. You switch hands. Then you hoist it onto your shoulder for a bit. But no matter how you carry it, the weight seems to grow heavier with every step.

Finally, you reach your gate, drop the suitcase, and sit down with a deep sigh of relief. But then someone taps you on the shoulder and points to a sign. The sign reads: “Complimentary baggage check.”

The whole time, you could’ve handed the suitcase over to someone else to carry, but you were so focused on dragging it yourself that you missed the opportunity to let it go.

Isn’t that how weariness works in our lives? At first, we think we can manage the weight. The demands of work, family, finances, or even ministry seem bearable. But over time, the burden grows heavier. Our souls start to ache. We grow tired—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Jesus speaks directly to this kind of weariness in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What Jesus offers isn’t just rest from work but rest in Him. He invites us to lay down the burdens we’ve been dragging and exchange them for His yoke—a partnership where He carries the weight with us. But just like the person in the airport, we often cling to our suitcase of worries, thinking it’s all up to us.

The question is: Why are you still carrying what Jesus has already offered to take? Whatever weight you’re dragging—whether it’s fear, guilt, or endless responsibilities—don’t miss the chance to let it go. Jesus is waiting to carry it for you. And when you surrender it, you’ll find a rest that no amount of human effort can ever provide.

So today, drop the suitcase. Hand it to the One who is strong enough to carry it—and you.

Seasons of languishing are often marked by inner turmoil, but hope in God can bring renewal.