why is spiritual formation so appealing

This is part one of a series around the concept of spiritual formation. This series seeks to explore spiritual formation carefully and biblically—listening with empathy, asking thoughtful questions, and grounding our understanding firmly in Scripture.

It is hard to ignore the growing interest in spiritual formation.  It has really only been popular among evangelicals since the late 70’s, but today the phrase shows up everywhere—books, podcasts, retreats, conferences, small groups, seminary programs and conversations among sincere Christians who love Jesus and want to grow deeper in their faith. For many, it feels like a fresh breeze after a long season of spiritual dryness.

I understand that appeal—personally.

I have been a Christian for over thirty years and in ministry for nearly three decades. I love the church. I love Scripture. I love preaching, teaching, shepherding, and walking with people through the joys and wounds of life. And yet, if I’m honest, when I hear people talk about spiritual formation, something in me leans forward. It stirs curiosity.

It inspires hope. It whispers, There has to be more than this—more depth, more vitality, more awareness of God’s presence

I don’t want to stay in the same place spiritually, and often feel my soul longing for more. I am reminded of the Psalmist, who said:

"As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, my God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

(Psalm 42:1–2)

I don’t want my walk with God to become mechanical or predictable, reduced to familiar routines that no longer awaken wonder. I don’t want to simply repeat the same practices year after year without a growing sense of intimacy with God.  I belong to a fellowship of churches that has done things the same way for a LONG time, so I desire innovation and creativity in ministry.

I want to go deeper—not away from Christ, but further into Him.

And I’m far from alone.

A Shared Sense of Spiritual Dryness

One of the primary reasons spiritual formation is so appealing today is that many Christians feel spiritually dry, stagnant, or uninspired. They love God sincerely, but their inner life feels thin. Prayer feels rushed or distracted. Scripture feels familiar but distant.  Let’s be honest, there are times we read scripture or pray and instead of feeling filled up, we feel nothing (more on feelings later). We’re human. Worship can tend to feel routine rather than formative. Faith still matters—but it doesn’t always feel alive.  I hope I’m not the only one who struggles with this!

In that space, the language of spiritual formation feels like an answer to a longing we’ve been carrying quietly for years. It promises attentiveness, depth, intentionality, and transformation. It speaks of practices that shape not just beliefs, but desires. It offers hope that the Christian life can be more than information transfer or moral effort—that it can be deeply experiential, embodied, and relational.

For people who are tired of shallow faith, that promise is powerful.

Disappointment with Church Life

Another reason spiritual formation resonates so strongly today is the growing disillusionment many feel with church life itself. Some have been hurt by leaders they trusted. Others have been let down by churches that felt more political than pastoral, more performative than prayerful. Still others feel unseen, unheard, or spiritually malnourished by programs that emphasize activity and action over transformation.

For these Christians, spiritual formation feels like a way to recover something authentic—something quieter, slower, and more personal. It often feels safer than institutional church life, less demanding, less complicated, and less prone to disappointment. It invites people inward rather than outward, offering a spirituality that feels intimate and sincere rather than corporate or conflicted.

That pull is understandable.

When the gathered church feels painful or hollow, it makes sense that people would look for spiritual nourishment elsewhere. When faith becomes entangled with controversy or exhaustion, practices that promise renewal, clarity, and peace can feel like a lifeline.

The Power of Testimony and Experience

There is another reason spiritual formation has gained traction so quickly: for many people, it seems to work.

Stories abound of renewed passion for God, deeper prayer lives, greater self-awareness, and a heightened sense of God’s presence. People speak of disciplines that slowed them down, helped them listen, and reoriented their hearts. For those who have felt stuck or numb, these testimonies carry real weight.

And we should not dismiss that lightly.

Christians are not machines. We are embodied souls shaped by habits, rhythms, and practices. It should not surprise us that intentional disciplines can awaken desire, restore attentiveness, and create space for reflection and repentance. When people say they feel closer to God, more engaged spiritually, or more aware of His presence, those experiences deserve to be acknowledged, not mocked or minimized.

At the same time, history reminds us that renewed passion and compelling testimony, while meaningful, are not sufficient guides by themselves. Experience can encourage us, but it cannot be our final authority.  Only God’s word can. That distinction matters, especially when movements grow quickly and borrow from a wide range of theological and historical sources.

Leaning In Before Drawing Lines

This series of posts is not written to dismiss the longings that drive interest in spiritual formation. Quite the opposite. Those longings are real, human, and deeply spiritual. They reveal a hunger for God that should be honored—not dismissed.

Before we analyze origins, evaluate practices, or ask hard biblical questions, it is important to first acknowledge why so many thoughtful, faithful Christians are drawn to this movement. Most people are not chasing novelty for novelty’s sake. They are searching for depth, healing, renewal, and authenticity. They want their faith to shape their lives, not just inform their minds.

I share that desire.

So this first post is simply an invitation to pause and reflect. To name the ache many of us feel. To admit that something in the modern Christian experience often feels thin or fragmented. And to acknowledge that the appeal of spiritual formation is not accidental, but like the Psalmist, is rooted in genuine spiritual hunger.

In the posts that follow, we will carefully and thoughtfully explore where spiritual formation comes from, how it developed, and—most importantly—how it should be evaluated in light of Scripture.   Our goal with anything like this should be involve careful thought and biblical discernment.

But before we do that work, it’s worth saying clearly: the questions driving this movement are worth asking.

The challenge is not whether we desire depth with God. The question is how we pursue it—and by what authority we discern the path forward.

Daren Overstreet

Daren is a Senior Leader at Anchor Point Church in Tampa, Florida.  He has been in ministry for nearly 30 years, and holds a Master’s Degree in Missional Theology

You can contact him at

daren@anchorpointtampa.org