It can happen slowly. You’re showing up to church, maybe reading your Bible once in a while. You believe in Jesus. You even want to grow in your faith.
But something feels...off. You feel stuck, like you’re just going through the motions or keeping your distance from God without meaning to.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re drifting spiritually, you’re not alone. We all hit seasons where faith feels quiet, routine, or even frustrating. But the truth is, Jesus hasn’t moved. He’s still inviting you to draw close. The question is—what does that actually look like?
How to stop drifting & get closer to Jesus
Jesus doesn't want you to settle for a life of just believing in him. He wants you to fully follow him. And that happens when we take intentional steps toward him. Here are three ways to get started:
1. Know him
There’s a big difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing them. You can follow someone on social media, hear their voice on a podcast, or know random facts about their life, but those things don’t replace having a personal relationship with them.
The same is true with Jesus. We can go to church, serve on a team, or join a group and still miss the point if we aren’t spending time with him.
In John 15, Jesus uses the image of a grapevine to describe how close he wants to be to us. He says, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” (John 15:4)
A relationship with Jesus isn’t just about doing the right things. It’s about staying connected to him. Like the way a branch stays connected to the vine to stay alive.
That kind of closeness takes intentionality. In a world full of distractions, it’s easy to be around Jesus without actually being with him. Phones, schedules, and stress all compete for our attention—but Jesus just wants you. Not your performance. Not your perfection. Just you, fully present.
So how do you move from proximity to intimacy? Spend time with him. Talk to him through prayer. Read the Bible with the goal of hearing from him. Turn off the noise, even for a few minutes a day, and ask him to meet you there.
2. Walk with him
Following Jesus isn’t just about believing—it’s about becoming. And becoming like Jesus requires movement.
In John 15:5, Jesus says, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” In other words, when we stay close to him, our lives start to change. We begin to look more like him in the way we think, love, and live.
But growth often comes with pruning. Jesus even says that God “cuts off every branch… that doesn’t produce fruit” and “prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (John 15:2) But pruning isn’t a form of punishment. It’s preparation.
Sometimes pruning looks like letting go of habits or thought patterns that are holding us back. Other times it means embracing a new rhythm, stepping into something uncomfortable, or releasing control.
Spiritual transformation doesn’t happen overnight. And it definitely doesn’t happen by accident. We’re all being formed by something—whether it's our culture, our influences, or our past. But when we walk with Jesus consistently, he begins to reshape us into who we were always meant to be.
3. Join him in his work
When we’re drifting, it’s easy to feel like life has lost its meaning. But Jesus gives us a purpose—one that’s bigger than ourselves.
Jesus said it plainly in John 15:8: “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.” And later in Matthew 28, he gives a clear mission: go and make disciples. That means helping others know him, walk with him, and find their purpose too.
What does that mean for us? It means that joining Jesus in his work looks like inviting a friend to church. Using your skills and talents to make a difference. Being there for someone who’s hurting. Investing in the next generation. You might not see the full impact of your obedience. But when you say yes to joining Jesus in what he’s already doing, lives change—including yours.
You don't have to drift forever
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) That kind of life—the full, meaningful, purpose-driven kind—isn’t found in accomplishments or activity. It’s found in closeness with Jesus. And you don’t have to earn it or chase it. You just have to say yes.
So if you’re feeling spiritually distant, start here:
One step at a time. One conversation at a time. One act of faith at a time. And if you’re wondering what Jesus is asking you to do next, just ask him. Then be bold enough to say yes.
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Jesus laid out the blueprint for fully following him in one of his most well-known and well-documented sermons: the sermon on the mount. Here are some of the most important verses from it, and how they can guide you on your faith journey.
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