✨ How to Stay Motivated When You’re Spiritually Drained | by Christina Standerfer | Aug, 2025
There was a season in my life when I didn’t know if I had the strength to keep going.
After 16 years of marriage, my husband left. I was suddenly a single mom, trying to stay strong for my three daughters — one of whom chose to live with him. That was one of the hardest roads I’ve ever walked. I felt abandoned, not just by my partner, but at times, by God. The motivation I once had to pray, to read scripture, to stay hopeful — it disappeared into a fog of grief and exhaustion.
And yet, God never let go of me.
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- Admit You’re Tired (It Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing)
I used to think that if I was spiritually drained, it meant I wasn’t strong enough in my faith. But now I know that even the strongest warriors need rest.
When I gave myself permission to say, “God, I’m tired,” it opened the door to healing. He never judged me — He just embraced me.
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2. Small Acts of Faith Matter
I didn’t have the energy for deep Bible studies in that season. But I could read a single verse. I could whisper a short prayer. I could cry and just say, “Jesus, please be near.”
One tool that helped me reconnect with God gently was this guided devotional journal. It gave me a space to reflect, and reminders of God’s presence when I felt lost.
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9749ZQZ/?tag=graceandgr06d-20 👈
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3. God Brings Restoration — Sometimes in Unexpected Ways
God didn’t just carry me through that heartbreak — He brought beauty from it.
I met my now-husband, and we’ve been together for 11 years. We’ve walked through scary things — his kidney cancer diagnosis, and now his upcoming weight loss surgery — but God has shown up again and again. Healing hasn’t always looked like I expected, but it has come.
And now? We have three beautiful grandbabies. They are our joy, our laughter, our little reminders that God still writes beautiful stories — even after broken chapters.
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4. Have a “Spiritual Lifeline” Ready for the Tough Days
On the hardest days, I keep these close:
• A worship playlist that makes me cry and praise at the same time
• A gratitude list (even one or two things can shift my focus)
• A favorite devotional or verse taped to my mirror
I return to these things not because I feel holy — but because I don’t. And they help me find my way back.
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5. Let Others Hold You Up When You Can’t
Sometimes I couldn’t pray. I just couldn’t. But I had people who prayed for me — friends, family, and even strangers online.
If you’re in that place right now, let me say this: I’m praying for you. You are not alone. God is not mad at you. He sees your exhaustion, and He’s still holding you.
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Final Thoughts:
Maybe you’re in a season where faith feels like a struggle. Where your prayers feel dry and your hope feels small. If that’s you, I just want to say: keep going.
You’re not less spiritual because you’re tired. You’re not far from God because you’re weary. In fact, He may be closer than you realize.
“He restores my soul…” — Psalm 23:3
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