Unmotivated

 Have you ever felt unmotivated? Unmotivated to clean the house, go to work, complete that unfinished project, read the Bible, pray, or workout. It happens to most of us at some time or another. What do you do when you are unmotivated to do anything? Some people stay in the bed for extended periods. Others sit in an easy chair snacking and watching television. There are people who get absorbed in toxic thinking. Many just go through the motions each day. 

Where do we find motivation to be productive when we lose our motivation? Some people are self motivators. They motivate themselves into action through sheer will power. These are the early rising gym rats who do predawn workouts. These are the people who make to do lists and feel accomplished as they check one item after another off the page. These are the goal setters who strive toward a targeted goal. What if you are not one of them or even if you are, but lost the motivation to be productive? 

Are you depressed? Has something got you down in the dumps? Depressed people are not motivated people. Toxic thinking can sure impact not just how we feel, but our motivation to want to be productive. If you lose hope it is hard to be motivated to keep pressing forward. God is the source of hope. If we spend time dwelling on the things listed in Phil 4:8, we just might find a way out of depression. 

Another question to consider is are you burned out? I've learned over the years that I can push myself and my body hard for weeks on end. I also know that a day will come when I hit a wall and need to physically, mentally, and spiritually recover. The way I do this is by taking a couple of days to slow down. I pray and read. I work at slowing my pace of life. I force myself to slow down eating meals, getting ready each morning, and sometimes getting a way.  I find after a few days of this, I am recharged and motivated to hit the ground running. Just like a vehicle was not designed to run at maximum RPM's continuously for long periods of time. Doing so repeatedly will result in engine failure. The same is true for our bodies. We may not like it or even admit it, but God knew what He was doing when He designed one day to be Sabbath to rest. It is difficult to be motivated when you are not just tired, but burned out. Even Jesus took time to recharge. Mark 1:35

One final question. Are you disillusioned? Have things not worked out the way you planned? Have your dreams been dashed on the rocks of reality? Maybe you prayed your heart out until you no longer have a prayer to pray because you did not get the intended results. Therefore, you are no longer motivated to ask God for help. Maybe you worked hard at work and instead of being rewarded you get overlooked and passed over. You read stories of people in the Bible who had the opportunity to be disillusioned, but they kept trusting. They experienced breakthrough moments. Joseph went from the dungeon to second in command in the palace in one day. Gen 42-50 Martha and Mary went from grieving sisters over the death of their brother to front row spectators of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus from the grave. John 11. The disillusioned disciples went from cowards to courageous warriors for Him when the resurrected Jesus appeared to them. Luke 24. 

God can help with depression, burn out, and disillusionment. In gaining victory in these areas, He can also supply the motivation to be productive. Just a few moments ago I was unmotivated. I still chose to click on the computer and to type this article trusting God to overcome my lack of motivation. I did not even have an idea to write about. I sighed a silent prayer when the word unmotivated came to mind. Just typing the first few words in faith God made up what was lacking in motivation. Maybe this will help someone find new motivation. .