As a young man growing up in the church, my Christian experience was. . . fine.

I believed the Bible. I went to church. I wasn’t rebellious. But honestly, it felt dull. It was full of obligations, but didn’t have any joy—like tending a rosebush and plucking all the buds so that you never see it bloom.

Maybe you know something of what I’m describing. Spiritual practices like prayer, reading Scripture, and worship feel more like duties than delights—you do just enough to quiet your conscience. And the idea of having a “personal relationship with Jesus,” sounds abstract for you. Maybe you assume it’s only supposed to be a metaphor, not something that actually feels real and personal.

This kind of experience is all too common, even for sincere believers. But this isn’t what God intends for us.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples something surprising: “It is to your advantage that I go away” (John 16:7, ESV). But how could that possibly be true? Wouldn’t it be better if Jesus were physically here? We could actually talk to Him face to face—ask Him the questions that trouble us, just like the disciples did.

Jesus explained that when He returned to the Father, He would send “another Helper” (John 14:16). He was referring to the Holy Spirit, whom He promised would not merely walk beside believers, but dwell in them (John 14:17). The Christian life was never meant to be powered by willpower alone. It was meant to be inhabited by God Himself.

And the presence of God dwelling in you makes all the difference.

Look at what happened when the Spirit filled the early church. In Acts 2, the fearful and self-focused disciples became bold witnesses. Their gatherings were marked by joy, generosity, and glad hearts (Acts 2:46–47). The same activities that can feel tedious—prayer, Bible study, and worship—become vibrant and life-giving when the Spirit is present and active.

And that promise of “another Helper” has not expired. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, leads us to repentance, teaches us truth, and reshapes our desires. He empowers ordinary believers for extraordinary faithfulness. The issue is not usually that we need better strategies or more guilt to motivate us. It’s that we need Him dwelling within us. His presence will make the dull and tedious Christian experience into something that is passionate and compelling.

So how do we obtain the Spirit to dwell in us? Jesus makes an astonishing promise: “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).

If your faith feels boring, don’t assume that God has nothing more to offer, or that you’re just not cut out for it. God is inviting you into something deeper. Repent where He convicts you. Trust Christ fully. Obey what you already know. And ask, persistently, for the Holy Spirit. 

Don’t give up before you have Him.