Lent Exercises: Rekindle - How to Deal With a Case of Spiritual "Yips"

For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you… 2 Timothy 1:6

I’d never heard of “the yips,” before watching the first episode of Ted Lasso season two.  In this episode the joyous and talented Dani Rojas loses the ability to perform the most essential football (soccer) skills.  In true sitcom style, the challenge was introduced, dramatized, and resolved in less than an hour.  But it made me curious.  Are “the yips” a real condition?  How serious are they?  Is there a cure?  

It turns out that “the yips,” is a real condition.  It seems to be brought about by psychological factors.  Athletes suffering from “the yips,” lose the fine motor control they’ve spent years refining.  Treatment includes working through psychological barriers, and sometimes even includes re-learning basic fundamental skills.  

As I reflect on the spiritual life, it seems like all of us experience something like the yips.  A young woman I know recently went from a season of active ministry where she helped others work through doubt and disillusionment, to a season where she doubted God’s existence.  I’ve seen students awaken to life with God, only to drift back into spiritual slumber.  I’ve seen churches transition from hubs of spiritual vitality to powerless fractured communities with alarming precipitancy.  

It seems to me that the most typical (and least helpful) response to a spiritual case of, “the yips” is shame and blame.  Both shame and blame create a felt distance between us.  Shame turns us inward with feelings of inadequacy.  Blame turns us outward in resentment.  Neither help us to relearn or rekindle the skill or grace received.  

In 2 Timothy 1:1-12, Paul takes a very different approach.  Timothy is clearly experiencing a crisis of confidence, perhaps a spiritual equivalent of “the yips.”  Paul doesn’t blame Timothy for the challenges the church is facing.  He doesn’t blame himself for not being a better apostle.  Instead, Paul closes the distance.  In verse 2 Paul refers to Timothy as a beloved child.  In verse 3, Paul shares his prayers for Timothy.  Paul expresses joy at the idea of seeing Timothy again, and shares confidence in the faith Timothy has received.  

Paul then reminds Timothy to rekindle the gift he’s received from God.  Again, notice there is no shame or blame here.  Paul doesn’t say, “why did you let the gift fizzle out, or grow cold,” he simply asks Timothy to rekindle it.

The way we deal with “the yips” in the spiritual life is to rekindle the gift God has given.  Instead of withdrawing from God in shame, we’re invited to come close.  God is not surprised at our struggle.  God is not disappointed or angry.  Instead, we are invited to re-learn the ways of grace.  We rekindle God’s gift of faith when we turn toward God in prayer.  We rekindle God’s gift of faith, when we remember our identity as beloved children.  We rekindle God’s gift as we keep Lent together.  

What needs to be rekindled in your spiritual life?