What’s Holding You Back?

Written by Vinnie Tumia

Each of us face struggles in our life. There are no exemptions from battles with weakness, addictions, or even our tendency to make poor choices. Yet, while we stand in shock at what a friend struggles with, that friend can look at us and our struggles the same way. We are all the same and yet so different. Some things we struggle with as imperfect people are:

• poor stewardship of money
• addiction
• pornography
• alcohol
• gluttony
• lying
• stealing
• cussing

The complete list is too long to detail. While our specific struggle may not be listed here, we all know our own weaknesses. Sometimes we justify why we struggle. Other times we hide it, or even deny it.

Genesis 13:14 “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:”

Abraham is in a relationship that is hindering his pursuit of God. When he left his home in Ur, God told him to abandon everything except his wife and what was necessary for travel. He was to cut all ties with his current life and pagan upbringing. God was leading him to new horizons and a land of promise.

The problem for Abraham is that his nephew Lot wedged his way into the family wagon. This seems to be the point at which God stops speaking with Abraham.  God was not pleased with his disobedience and unwillingness to draw a line of separation from a destructive relationship. There are several possible reasons why Abraham continues his relationship with Lot:

• Maybe he struggled with pleasing people and just couldn’t confront Lot.
• Maybe he relied on the affirmation Lot’s dependency provided.
• Maybe Lot’s magnetic personality made even the toughest of days enjoyable for him.

Regardless of the reason, Lot was in Abraham’s caravan, and God went quiet. God is relational, not robotic. There are decisions, actions, and words that hurt Him just like they do us. So, God went quiet. Then months, even years passed in icy silence. “And the Lord said unto Abram…”. God was on speaking terms with Abraham again. But why? What changed? We can find the answer in one statement:

“AFTER… Lot was separated from him.”

Whatever tied Abraham to his nephew became an issue of obedience for him. Thus, God waited to reinstate communion until Abraham “separated” and cut ties with his nephew.

God is relational, not robotic. There are decisions, actions, and words that hurt Him just like they do us.

Maybe we are in a time of God’s silence as well. Perhaps we find the Bible irrelevant and have no desire for prayer, or God seems distant. We should carefully examine ourselves for a secret sin, or some subtle rebellion. If we return to where we walked off the path, we will discover His fellowship once again.