Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

What To Do When Your Passion Fades

Passion is a mysterious force. Sometimes you feel it. Sometimes you don’t.

Matter of fact, it’s very easy to lose passion for something that you’re passionate about.

I’m passionate about worship leading but I don’t always want to lead worship.

I’m passionate about Jesus, but I don’t always want to read my Bible.

What you decide to do in your passion-less moments is what will determine your effectiveness.

If passion is something that comes and goes, it’s obvious that we shouldn’t rely on it. We need to make a choice and be disciplined.

But that’s much easier said than done, right? If you don’t feel like being disciplined it’s much easier to grab the remote and withdraw from facing your creative drought.

Forget Your Feelings?

But the truth remains:

If you only lead worship when you felt like it, you’d be fired.

If you only spent time with Jesus when your passion was high, you wouldn’t know Him.

If you only invested in your marriage when it felt romantic, well…you get my drift.

So what should we do when our passion fades? Is it possible, in a moment of zero feeling and zero passion that we tap into a deeper sense of creativity?

There are many goals that I’m working on – ideas that have had me excited. The initial spark of launching an idea is quickly snuffed out when the hard work sets in.

I want to see what’s possible if I focus. You’re probably like this too. What can you do? Here are some tips:

1. Break away from the routine – go outside and take a run. Work in a new location. Do something different. Creativity needs adventure to flourish. And sometimes all that involves is breaking your routine.

2. Look at the fruit – Everyone likes to know they are making a difference. Revisit a story of how God used you in the past, or better yet, look right in front of you and see how God is currently using you to change lives. Sometimes you can see this, sometimes you can’t. But when you know your hard work is making a difference, it inspires you to keep running.

3. Ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” – Is the end result of what you’re doing worth the lack of passion? If “yes”, you need to persevere. If not, it’s OK to let it go. Not everything is worth pursuing when your passion fades. Jesus, yes. Your marriage, yes. But some projects can just be let go if the end result isn’t as important as you originally thought.

4. Decide beforehand – If I had to wake up every morning and convince myself to write this blog, I probably wouldn’t. I’d want to sleep longer. That’s why I set goals and have a plan in place for my day. Make your decision before the “lack of passion” moments. Decide in advance what you’re going to work on and develop an action plan. Feeling zero inspiration? Too bad…you’ve already decided to create. The decision is made. Get to work.

5. Set Accountability – If you’re struggling with your passion, set some accountability. Set an appointment with someone to have a project completed. We talk about this often, but sometimes all it takes is getting started. By far, that’s the hardest step in the creative process.

I’ve been studying the nature of goals. Zig Ziglar and Seth Godin are my personal mentors. Sort of. I’ve picked up the Domino Project’s Pick Four packs and am getting a nice kick in the pants. It’s helping me rediscover my passion when I feel it’s all but drained.

Whether you try these books or not, the fact remains: What you decide to do in your passion-less moments is what will determine your effectiveness.

Question: How do you press through when your passion fades? Let’s get the conversation going. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Comments

  1. TC Avey says

    Love the last sentence! It is so true. We are living in a feel good/instant gratification society, I fear these lessons are being lost. We need to harness this and pass it on to our children.

      • TC Avey says

        I guess I feel this way because I spend a great deal of time studying current events/history and politics. I see a trend sweeping our nation that is not based on Christian values.
        I know we cannot get bogged down in the cares of the world, I spend equal time in God’s word to counter the negativity generated by reading/watching the news/books.
        I feel a call to help educate people on issues they have little knowledge about, to help make people aware of what is transpiring outside their normals comfort zones.

        This is just my perspective.

  2. Sarah Wooten says

    These are all great tips, and stuff that I’ve done on occasion. Love me some Seth Godin, and I’ve recently discovered http://www.petershallard.com/ – a pretty helpful website for motivation, creativity and entrepreneurship. A lot of his stuff is applicable.

    Now I’m gonna get all kumbaya and touchy-feely.

    So – I’ve been leading worship for about 4 years and have pretty much gone through every single transition with my team known to mankind. I’ve slowly moved from nazi-dictator-control-freak to here is the framework, the map, the tone I want and the journey we are setting the congregation on so now be musicians unleashed – and my band has really responded with upping the creative and musical excellence. When I let go of CONTROL – the creativity and passion flowed more readily and sometimes when I was out of passion, my musicians carried me with theirs. It is a pretty cool partnership.

    The other thing I have found that really, REALLY ignites passion, creativity and new energy is prayer. Not just gathering together and going through a list, or bowing your heads before service….I’m talkin’ prayer from intercessors gifted in prophecy, encouragement, etc.

    We had a prayer conference a month or so ago and I was privileged to spend a good chunk of time with the intercessors – and that has made all the difference in the world. My passion and creativity and confidence has sky-rocketed because God reminded me who I am in Christ and who I am as a leader of worship. It cleared out some stuck areas that were blocking the flow of the Spirit and for me, the Spirit is carrying the passion and creativity, and I am just along for the ride.

    I know this is very intangible and I am feeling not that helpful….my advice is to seek out intercessors in your church or community who are comfortable in their gifting and have them pray over and for you. You may be surprised what God wants to say to you as a leader and how the
    Spirit is longing to fill and empower you with passion and creativity that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

    Be blessed!

    • David Santistevan says

      Sarah, this is great insight. It’s funny how when you stop micro managing people become more productive. I love your insight on prayer. How do you personally engage your team in prayer? You know, moving beyond the 30-second-bow-your-head-before-service prayer?

  3. Michaela Garner says

    Hi. Our worship leader at Northstar Church in Saltillo, MS introduced us to your blog today. Thanks for this article. Passion for worship music rarely ever leaves me. However, passion for serving does.

    Two key points for me: 1-look at the fruit, what you’re doing does make a difference, it is worth it. 2-Make your decision before the “lack of passion” moments.

    God bless,
    Michaela

      • Michaela Garner says

        I am on the worship team as a vocalist 1st, piano 2nd. In the past, however, was the founder and worship leader for DevotionSong and a member of the Christian rock band, Gethsemane. Also have experience with songwriting, media, studio recording and t.v. and radio broadcast (in front of the camera, not behind the sound board). Therefore, familiar with many areas within the worship music spectrum.

        Right now, I am passion-less, mainly due to believing the lie that I am not needed and I am the weakest link in the chain. Uuuugh! Really, this is a life-long battle with the same old demon….and I’m really tired of it!

        My prayer today and everyday is for God to banish these thoughts and feelings; ignite the flame within me with His eternal flame of victory!

        This past Sunday, I was holding up the sign language for “victory” during “Desert Song” hoping to encourage the congregation to remember we have the victory in Christ; all the while, I know I’m the one who needs to remember this.

        Michaela

  4. Rhonda Sue Davis says

    I like the photo, think I would be heading for that shady spot to the left start digging a very deep hole for some water….thank you for this post.
    I got the four pack also, gave away three to friends and still trying to narrow down the 50 things to four that I will stick to sad but true, I could come up with 50 new ones a week…)
    I think in it I am learning that the few things to focus on for completion, short term and long term, is something I change up a lot. And that is not going to change much until I handle the basics differently.
    He is bringing things in our home to be acted upon and to change hearts and ways of responding (hospitality, submission, follow through). And it could be overwhelming, but we are managing it one step at at time.

  5. Gina says

    Thanks for the post! I am new to worship leading…like 2 months new. This is a volunteer role in a very small Baptist church. I bring to this opportunity a lifelong passion for Christ and music. God has blessed my husband and I with 2 very talented boys (drums, piano, and singing) who are willing to use their talents for God. So, while taking this role is my obedience to God, much of my passion comes from watching my boys grow in their ministry. I want to encourage them and create opportunities for them to grow. I am seeing many doors open with other young people coming forward to offer their talents as well…very cool! The first request I had of our pastor was to open the “adult” choir to our youth as well. This is going very well.

    Now for my “passion-less” moments. I am amazed by the amount of “obligations” in this world that rank very high on priority lists. I become so frustrated when I hear (alot)”I will be there if I don’t have _____________________”. You fill in the blank…could be ball practice (unreal how much this is the reason),work, naps, pretty day, etc. I hear lots of verbal affirmations about how they like what I am doing, but we are not yet a “choir”. Currently we are a very small core group of committed individuals who have been committed to this church and choir for many, many years. Only a handful. The rest…”will be there if it works into their schedule”. My prayer is for a committment to worship. I believe it will happen. I read your blog…please stay passionate about writing ! Your insight is a blessing! Blessings to you.

    • David Santistevan says

      Gina, thanks for reading and contributing here. That’s awesome to see your family doing ministry together. Well done!

      People in our generation are busier than ever. It’s sad how church is barely a priority for lots of “Christians”.

  7. Ryan Gordon says

    Great write.

    #2 is the what’s most important to me. When I feel like God is nowhere to be found and I’m in a funk of a passion-less desert, I remind myself of what God has done in me and through me. It always helps me get a bigger perspective on things.

    And something I do that isn’t on this list (not trying to over-spiritualize this practical post) is to stop what I’m doing and just worship. Even if I don’t feel like it, throwing on some Jesus Culture and singing my guts out or playing my guitar until my fingers bleed remind me of why I do what I do.

    Some much-needed come-to-Jesus time goes a long way when I feel like I’m leading on empty.