This question was sent in by a student during a Q&A session with the Good Fight Youth Group:
“What do I do if I feel a disconnect from God and want to get closer to Him but lack the motivation to put in the effort?”
I get it.
I’ve been there.
There have been times in my Christian life where I felt exactly what you’re feeling — this deep disconnect from God and zero motivation to do anything about it.
And in those moments, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have the energy or drive to read my Bible, pray, or even show up to church with an open heart.
But you know what I’ve realized looking back on those seasons?
Jesus carried me.
Even when I wasn’t “trying hard” or putting in the effort, He didn’t leave me behind. He didn’t stop loving me. I didn’t stop being saved just because I lacked motivation.
And for that, I am grateful.
Grateful that my relationship with God doesn’t depend on my performance. Grateful that He’s not standing at a distance, waiting for me to get my act together before He comes near.
He carried me.
And eventually, He brought me to a new season — a season where I started to feel that connection again. Where I started to learn how to walk myself. Where I began to grow, not out of guilt or duty, but out of love.
Here’s the truth: Discipline is important. It’s how we grow.
But discipline doesn’t make you grow.
Only God can do that.
An apple can’t force itself to grow by trying harder. Picture an apple on the ground, straining, grunting, pushing to grow. It’s ridiculous, right?
He won’t grow because He’s not on the branch. If he’s disconnected from the tree, Doesn’t matter how hard he pushes. He won’t grow.
Growth happens naturally — not by the apple’s effort, but by its connection to the tree.
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The key isn’t trying harder. It’s staying connected.
So the real question isn’t, “How do I motivate myself to put in the effort?”
It’s, “Why do I want to get closer to God in the first place?”
Here’s what I’ve learned:
If your “why” is about being perfect — about being a “good Christian” who checks all the right boxes — you’ll burn out. Every time.
You’ll feel like a failure. Like you’re never enough. Like you’ll never measure up.
But if your “why” is about love — about knowing and experiencing the God who loved you enough to die for you — everything changes.
Suddenly, prayer isn’t a chore. It’s a conversation with Someone who delights in you.
Reading Scripture isn’t about earning points with God. It’s about hearing His voice, seeing His heart, and falling more in love with Him.
Worship isn’t about impressing others. It’s about giving your heart back to the One who gave everything for you.
So here’s my advice:
- Be honest with God. Tell Him where you’re at. Tell Him you feel disconnected. Tell Him you’re not motivated. He already knows, and He loves you anyway.
- Shift your “why.” Stop trying to be perfect. Stop trying to earn your way to Him. Instead, focus on knowing Him, loving Him, and letting Him love you.
- Stay connected to the vine. This doesn’t mean doing all the things perfectly. It means finding small ways to stay close — reading a Psalm, listening to worship music, talking to Him throughout your day.
- Trust God to do the growing. Your job isn’t to force growth. It’s to stay connected and let Him do the work in you.
Remember, He’s not looking for your effort. He’s looking for your heart.
And the beautiful thing is, even when you don’t have the motivation to reach out to Him, He’s already reaching out to you.
He’s carrying you.
And one day, you’ll look back on this season and realize that even when you felt disconnected, He was closer than you ever imagined.
Youth Q&A: What do I do if I lack motivation to grow as a Christian? was originally published in GoodLion Theology on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
