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“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Ro. 12:11 (ESV).

Many Christians today suffer from dulled desire for matters of concern to God. This quiet sickness slips in through distractions, unprocessed pain, and misplaced priorities, slowly eroding zeal.

In Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care (2022), Uche Anizor provides Christian resources for diagnosing and combating apathy in personal faith and church life. The book – suggested for but not yet scheduled for discussion in the Reading Circle - lists and explains the following causes:

  • Doubt – creeping unbelief that paralyses action.
  • Triviality – letting what’s small, e.g., entertainment saturation, crowd out matters of ultimate significance.
  • Low self-esteem – allowing feelings of inadequacy close the door to service.
  • Lack of discipline – neglecting the basics of prayer, Scripture, and community.
  • Fragility – avoiding hardship rather than seeing it as formative. Ro. 5:3–4.
  • Aimlessness – living without a compelling “why.”

We can overcome these causes by focusing on God’s unshakable love. We matter deeply to Him. Life in Christ has eternal purpose. Fighting apathy requires us to be honest about our weaknesses, to depend on God’s grace, and to pursue practices that align our hearts with God’s mission.

  • Remember: Christ bore more of the load so His yoke could be light. Matt. 11:28–30.
  • Reset: Set your mind on the Spirit daily.
  • Re-engage: Commit to simple acts of service with love.
  • Resist: Face distractions honestly and choose the better portion. Luke 10:38–42.
  • Renew: Let trials shape endurance and hope.

Put simply, God does not leave us to self-motivate our way out of apathy. His love and our faith community can reorient our hearts and discipline our desires to empower us to pursue lives of risk, joy, and meaning for His sake. And we individually can seek His help with this prayer:

Lord, kindle in me the zeal I have lost. Confront my “Why bother?” with Your “You matter to Me.” Redirect my heart toward what is truly eternal and give me courage to care about what You care about, even when it costs me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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