To this day, his question still haunts me. Brad (not his real name) was an immature believer who had come from a very difficult past. He was as different from everyone else in the congregation as he could possibly be. But he knew, perhaps better than the rest of us, how much grace had saved him from. He took that grace seriously.

Some of us tried, fumbling, to disciple him. It was hard work for everyone. He wanted to change, but change was slow. Sinful patterns ran deep, and the effects of his long-term addictions had taken a big toll.

At one point, as I was explaining a Bible passage and talking about its application, he said, “But how do you do that?” For each answer I posited, he repeated, in childlike fashion, “But how do you do that?” He made me think about how spiritual change (and the resulting change in actions) takes place.

When we talk about church revitalization, that talk is cheap unless I apply it to myself. Sure, I want my congregation to show vitality. I want my pastor to be on a never-ending spiritual plateau. I want everyone around me to be ever concerned about their own vitality. But I know that in my own spiritual walk there have been peaks and valleys. While that might be natural, it isn’t acceptable.

I suppose one advantage of age is that I have seen the pattern in myself enough times to recognize when spiritual downturns and malaise are happening (or have happened) and to have some confidence in how to address them. That haunting “but how?” question, while still thorny, does have answers.

The central answer is that repentance and spiritual growth are the gracious work of God the Holy Spirit. That does leave some mystery to it, as He works in the ways He pleases. But God also gives us clear patterns and promises. Here are a few keys that have led me out of many of the valleys.

Pleading for help. When I don’t have the answers, when I don’t have the power to change, I at least have the power to lift an unspoken “Help!” to heaven. My asking God to do for me what I could not do for myself has seen some amazing answers. I don’t deserve the answers, but He has kindly granted them.

Reaching out. One reason for a spiritual downturn is always that I begin to focus too much on myself—even too much on getting the answers for my own problems. When I choose to spend time with people in need, including the lost, God drives me to prayer and to a heart of compassion, to a desire to give what little I have to those who have much less.

Taking five minutes. I’m not good at setting aside huge blocks of time for self-discipline and denial, especially when I’m in a spiritual downturn. But I can offer a short prayer. I can read the Bible for 5 minutes in the morning. I can give up one thing I know is not benefiting me. I can talk to a close friend about one thing that is holding me back. I can exercise for a few minutes. Opening the door for these spiritual and physical disciplines often leads to a desire to read longer, pray more, and draw closer.