In answer to the question of what happened we can take a look at Peter. When he was around Jesus he was spontaneous, alert and ready to act. He even walked on the water and he cut off the ear of the soldier that came to take Jesus. No Fear. Yet when Jesus was not with him he denied Him, said he did not know him. After Jesus was resurrected and glorified and at Pentecost through the Holy Spirit indwelling Peter, Jesus living in Peter, he became strong in Christ and boldly preached the gospel.
Now we can take a look at us. When we first believed the gospel and understand Jesus, He had our full attention. We received the Holy Spirit and walked strongly and excitedly with Jesus Christ as He dwells in us. Like Peter, when we are in the presence of Jesus, we are focused on Him, we are focused on the Spiritual matters of our lives. Then we allow the cares and worries in our lives to push out the spiritual priorities. That does not happen overnight, it is an incremental process. We are no longer walking strongly with Jesus, oh, He is there, however we become comfortable doing things on our own.
Where is the cure? The cure is in us, always has been. We have to sacrifice our will for His will. Put all of our thoughts into the subjection of Jesus Christ. Realize that He is present with us at all times. As Peter, we are stronger when we have Jesus in our presence, we always have Him, but we need to recognize He is there. Sometimes it may take some work to clean up the mess we have created, and it takes a lot of effort to change things. He is patient and forgiving and wants us to repent and turn to Him. He is always there, we are the losers when we let our will take over, we are missing out.
You will never stumble! 2Peter Chapter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
The cure in action: 2Peter Chapter 1:1-11
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours,by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Let’s be ready: 1 Peter 3:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Remember, the cure is already in you. 1 John 4:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.