Being able to switch contexts from desire to reason to action and back again is a monumental test of faith. To honestly focus on the appropriate step requires setting aside the natural way of considering how we feel, what we do, and how we think—which is not to consider them at all!
Switching from a passive approach to life to an intentional one is not easy. It requires the ability to relentlessly focus on the specific task at hand while smoothly pivoting to reason or desire when there is appropriate new information to update previous perspectives.
Consider the journey of Moses, which consisted in three forty-year periods, each concentrated enough to fill a full life:
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. (Hebrews 11)
Moses never lost faith. Through his monumental faith, he was able to manage both surreal spiritual situations as well as so many daily challenges along his lengthy life’s work.
Noah spent a very long time building the ark and was able to balance between the long-term goal of building the ark and the short-term actions of each day. Imagine juggling the responsibility for the welfare of the human race with the intricate and mundane details of building an enormous boat, without the aid of technology or power.
The temptation to mismanage context switches is constant. You will want to switch contexts when there is insufficient reason to, because it will seem more pleasant than digging in and completing the difficult task at hand. You will want to avoid switching contexts when given a sufficient reason to, because it will seem easier to keep barreling along with what you are doing, thinking, or feeling than to make changes. These constant struggles provide ample opportunity for you to learn to rely on intentional faith rather than passive plodding. Paul called this walking by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).