I have been in this walk 20 years and am not as close to God as I used to be. I do not even do any of the disciplines like I used to. I talked to others and they have the same problem. Is this falling away? Is this normal after a long walk with God? I am really upset. I try to get back where I was but only can do so much. I feel pooped out. I love God and it grieves me about my walk.
The falling away mentioned in 2 Thessalonians. 2:3 is a defection or apostasy, something a true believer can not do because our salvation is guaranteed from the beginning (Ephesians 1:13-14) and it’s God who makes us stand firm in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
Most people who’ve been walking with the Lord for any length of time have experienced periods where they don’t feel as close to Him as they once did. It’s important to remember when this happens that it’s not the Lord who has moved. He said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
If we’re not careful, our relationship with the Lord can become routine over time. Many mature believers have found that periodically doing something new or different helps restore their closeness to Him. Delving into a book of the Bible you haven’t studied before, or going on a short mission trip are examples of this.
The best advice I’ve heard is to find a place where the Lord is obviously working and pitch in. There’s nothing like watching Him in action to energize our faith. Paul said, “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 3:13).