Small business owners who have built successful trades and strong reputations; Teachers and Pastors who are well respected by their classes, congregations and peers; Business Professionals, Attorneys and Physicians who hold the esteem of clients, patients and colleagues: These are just some of the people i have spoken with over the past year or so that have communicated to me that they have lost passion in their lives.
Each of these individuals calls themselves Christian. Personally knowing these individuals, i attest that over the years they have definitely lived determined and faithful lives in service to God. So where has their passion gone? Why have zest, vibrance, vitality and zeal seemingly vanished? Is it due to mid-lifefaith crisis?
Christians are to have a splendid and glorious purpose to live out to extremes in hope and fervor and enthusiasm for all they do. Countless books on Christian living profess a mind-set that should be continually joyous and full of hope, life and laughter. Likewise, this is propagated from the front of churches every weekend.
i sometimes get exasperated at ministers who are all fired up on their platform. When you talk to them one on one their zeal/zest isn’t nearly as vibrant and sometimes altogether missing. It’s like they are putting on a performance or acting when they get in front of a podium, morphing into a divine cheerleader. Because, in fact, that is not real life 24/7.
Many have sought God to find fulfillment. In so doing find initial elation in a newly discovered relationship with The Savior, which over time fades. Disillusioned, many tend to waiver and disregard their faith. Which is indeed an oxymoron, for there is the exact point… it is after all called “FAITH.” Faith is trusting even when you don’t feel like doing so; 
when there may be no sense of emotional connection; or when certainty dims and doubt shines.
The Psalms are filled with songs of pain, frustration, even ambivalence in the midst of faith. Not always happy, joyous dances of praise. Even the Apostles sought that their faith would increase (Luke 17.5).
It is really not worrisome to me that fervency has flickered in the lives of many. Sometimes that’s just life. Because someone doesn’t feel passionately about an issue doesn’t mean they don’t believe or support it either. Real faith holds on in the midst of these circumstances.
Being “lack luster” too is the working out of Faith and Salvation. God is truly continually purposeful towards us, refining us. At times this is through violent surge of flood waters breaking off chunks of our riverside. However, it is most often by erosion, the slow gentle trickle of the ordinary and constant. This is the menial, the average, the mundane of life. Both methods result in a changed landscape: To be better, to build character, to be refined, distinguished, reshaped for His purpose.
Progressive French inventor, apologist and mathematician Blaise Pascal noted, “The power of man’s virtue should not be measured by his special efforts, but by his ordinary doings.” Sometimes life is simply mundane. It is purposeful enough to live, love and do the right thing. Indeed, God’s purposes and glory are often expressed in our faithfulness in living out the trivial, banal and ordinary aspects and routines of daily life, without the flash or miraculous.
How has your faith/trust in God survived passionless points?
How do you see God working in you through trivial day-to-day tasks?
What have you learned from seasons of ambivalence and doubt?
~End bourgeois~
lifeVertical 
I love the quote from Pascal. Also like yours, “It is purposeful enough to live, love and do the right thing.” I think every Christian I know has had those dry, desert experiences. When you are down in the valley and not up on the mountain and you don’t necessarily feel or sense God’s presence or passion at all. This is where the rubber meets the road. When I have been there, I have benefited from my christian heritage passed down to me from my parents. I was raised in church and with family devotions and these disciplines are habits that are ingrained in me. I saw my family go through trials, tests and doubts but knew that through it all, the Lord remained with us. I don’t know how to impart this to others (except through the power of the Spirit) and pray God will show me more effective ways to do this. I also believe that the average every day christian living out his life with its ups and downs is more effective than the “cheerleader pastor”. Years ago, there was a definite divide between pastors and lay-people but not any more. We know that we are all ministers and that the Holy is found in the things we do every day. If we change our mind set to see that all that we do is for the Glory of God and believe that He is using us even when we don’t know it, we should have passion! Passion does have to do with emotions and feelings and so many christians are afraid they will get out of balance so they shy away from anything that is “too emotional”. My passion is always ignited through intercessory prayer times and worship. I can walk into church discouraged and stressed and after closing my eyes and throwing my hands in the air to sing and worship my Savior, I am indeed changed. The Holy Spirit ministers His peace, acceptance and love to me and I know that I am ready for another week of life, no matter what it may bring. Is this a charismatic emotional high where I am only led by my feelings? Defiantly not! Passionate praise for my Creator is vital for me and draws me to His Word and to prayer. One last thing (sorry) is an attitude of thankfulness. Being thankful for every thing in my life helps me remember that God is good and that I am so very blessed. This keeps me passionate too. Walking down this road of faith can get tiresome and we need each other! What would happen if all of us got with at least one of our other friends consistently and started fervently crying out to God for more passion, more love, more of Him in our lives? Would we be changed? Would others? Would our passion for God be renewed? I think so. I know so.
Well said.