I woke up Sunday morning with a stiff neck. This wasn’t particularly unusual for me, as I have an old injury from a previously dislocated shoulder that causes a nerve to pinch. However, as the day wore on, my neck felt progressively stiffer, and it didn’t seem like a typical pinched nerve. I couldn’t imagine what I had done to cause this pain; perhaps it was just because I was getting older.
Later, while putting the boys to bed, I remembered what we had done the day before. The boys and I were goofing around, submerging our heads underwater and flipping our hair into different styles, creating mohawks and combovers, and having a great time. That’s when it hit me—I must have given myself whiplash.
Whiplash is an injury that occurs when sudden movements strain your neck and spine. It’s most common in car accidents but can happen for other reasons as well. Fortunately, it is usually treatable and short-lived. In fact, Theo pointed out that he was fine after performing the same motions, so it’s likely also related to age.
This experience got me thinking about our relationship with God. It seems that humanity often swings back and forth between whom we choose to serve. In 1 Kings, Elijah asks, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21). The imagery is striking—bouncing back and forth between two points. This has been a struggle for God’s people for as long as there have been people. What we often fail to realize is the spiritual pains we inflict on ourselves during these struggles.
Spiritual whiplash can be confusing and debilitating. The pain it brings often causes people to withdraw and retreat. The cure for physical whiplash is heat, ice, and rest, along with avoiding sudden movements. The worst thing you can do for physical whiplash is to jerk your head back and forth. The same principle applies to spiritual whiplash: choose a direction and be resolute in your decision.
1 Kings 18:21 states, “Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!’” The people, however, remained completely silent.
We must choose whom we will follow. Constantly bouncing back and forth will only harm our lives. Elijah knew the right answer—he recognized who the Living God is. It’s up to us to make that same declaration every day.
In the meantime, I will take it easy and avoid sudden movements with my neck. I’ll walk in a direction that focuses on God, thereby avoiding further injury from whiplash.