Why We Lose Passion for God and How Jeremiah 2 Shows the Way Back

“I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the wilderness.” — Jeremiah 2:2

Jeremiah 2 records the Lord’s lament that His people had lost the love they once had for Him. It is not merely an accusation but a heartbreak. God remembers the early days of Israel’s devotion with their trust, their willingness to follow Him anywhere, and grieves that they have traded the living fountain for broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jer 2:13).

The Early Days of Faith

I remember my own early days as a believer. I shared the gospel with everyone I met. Sermons played constantly on my computer, my Bible was always open, and prayer filled my mornings and nights. There was a freshness to faith that was simple, joyful, constant.

But as years passed, that passion began to fade. I grew comfortable and distracted. The same thing can happen in marriage: early love is full of poetry and surprise breakfasts, but life grows busy, children arrive, and passion gives way to routine. Unless we make time for one another, love cools. The same is true with God. Revelation 2:4 warns, “You have forsaken your first love.” It takes deliberate pursuit to rekindle that intimacy.

The Drift of Compromise

Spiritual drifting rarely happens in one day. One minute we’re worshiping; the next, we realize we haven’t been to church for a month. I see it even in myself. I used to write devotionals almost daily, but this year I’ve written only a few. I let the pace of life quiet the voice that once spoke so often about Jesus. Yet Jeremiah 2 calls us back to the Source. God hasn’t changed; our attention has.

Paul wrote, “Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you.” (2 Tim 1:6). The embers of devotion can burn again if we return to Him.

Broken Cisterns in a Digital Age

Jeremiah’s image of forsaking the fountain for broken cisterns still fits our world. We scroll endlessly through phones, chasing entertainment and affirmation, trying to fill the emptiness that only God can satisfy. Ecclesiastes 1:14 calls it “chasing after the wind.” Sin promises refreshment but always leaves us dry.

Jesus later stood and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37). The living water is still flowing; we simply need to stop digging our own wells.

Idolatry and Its Consequences

When we pursue success or approval more than obedience, we become enslaved to what we worship. I’ve experienced seasons where worry and ambition made me physically sick. Christ warns, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matt 6:34). Paul reminds us to think on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8).

Sin always brings bondage and disappointment. Pride whispers that we are fine, that we’re not polluted. Jeremiah 2:35 echoes that lie: “You say, ‘I am not defiled.’” Yet pride precedes a fall (Prov 16:18). I see it even in my career. Real estate can feed competition and ego, and it’s easy to measure worth by numbers instead of faithfulness. But success without integrity is another broken cistern.

Now I view my work differently. My goal is to be faithful with what God entrusts to me, providing for my family and using the income to bless others and support missionaries. A dear friend recently went to Nepal and India to preach the gospel to thousands, funded in part by what the Lord provided through my business. That’s the kind of success worth pursuing.

Marriage and Covenant Faithfulness

Jeremiah uses marital imagery because covenant love reflects God’s own nature. Today we see heartbreaking numbers of divorces among both believers and unbelievers. Marriage was designed as a covenant, not a contract—a commitment to love sacrificially, not a service to our own needs. Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. When we chase novelty instead of nurture, we mirror Israel’s unfaithfulness to her Bridegroom.

Returning to the Fountain

Jeremiah 2 closes with a call to honesty. God’s people must stop denying their sin and return to Him. The same call reaches us: stop digging empty wells. Christ is the living water that never runs dry.

Let’s not lose sight of the Source. Let’s rediscover that early devotion, the songs, the prayers, the joy of obedience. Whether in ministry, marriage, or business, the truest success is faithfulness to God’s call.

Reflection Questions

• When did you first feel the passion of your “first love” with Christ?
• What “broken cisterns” tempt you to look for satisfaction apart from Him?
• How can you intentionally rekindle intimacy with God this week?