Overcoming Spiritual Dryness: Finding Refreshing in God
Have you ever seen what happens during a drought? The ground hardens and then begins to crack. During a prolonged dry period, soil can become compacted and soil erosion can occur. Plant life experiences stunted growth, reduced or totally absent fruit production, and even wilting and dieback in extreme droughts. In spiritual droughts, we often experience similar woes, but unlike during physical droughts, we have constant access to a wellspring of living water. Overcoming spiritual dryness is possible for believers who find themselves in a desolate place.
What is Spiritual Dryness?
Spiritual dryness is a feeling that God is distant. It’s a sense of spiritual isolation from God and other believers. It can feel like we are gradually pulling away from God. If this sounds like something you have experienced, you’re not alone. King David, while he was likely in the wilderness fleeing from his enemies, spoke of the spiritual bareness he felt:
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ”
Even the most seasoned and dedicated believers can walk through days — or even months — of spiritual dryness. However, it is important to understand and address why we have entered this season. The good news is that we can take steps to refresh your relationship with God.
What Causes Spiritual Dryness?
There are several reasons we can find ourselves in a season of spiritual dryness. It can start because of circumstances beyond our control, but often continues when those circumstances steer us off course.
Busyness
Unfortunately, life can throw us curve balls. Chaotic kids’ schedules, a change in job demands, or even caring for an ill family member can take up every moment of our free time and energy. When we’re focusing so much on our physical lives, it’s easy to neglect our spiritual ones.
Tragic Life Events
Unimaginable things can happen even to those who love and serve God, shaking their lives to the core. In these situations, we might fail to turn to God and, instead, distance ourselves from him in our grief, panic, or anger.
Disobedience
If God calls us to serve him in a specific way or change our lives in some fashion, but we neglect to obey, we may perceive that he becomes silent. Or perhaps we aren’t listening closely enough. We are also disobedient when we engage in repetitive, willful sin, which can damage our relationship with God and create a spiritual distance.
Neglecting Spiritual Disciplines
As plants need water to live and grow, we also need spiritual food to thrive. This nourishment comes from reading the Word of God and spending time with the Lord in prayer on a regular basis. When we neglect this, our spiritual lives can wilt and fail to produce fruit.
What Are the Dangers of Spiritual Dryness?
Skipping our alone time with God or struggling to pray are often the first spiritual cracks. We could even stop praying altogether. Reading and studying his Word then falls to the wayside, and we may no longer hear from God like we used to. We could experience a lack of joy and peace, often leading to feeling emotionally drained, angry, or persistently sad.
Like the ground begins to harden during a drought, prolonged spiritual dryness might mean our hearts eventually begin to harden. We might take offense to things and even start pulling away from other believers. If we don’t seek God during times of spiritual dryness, the cracks that begin can grow into deep crevices. Old sinful habits can begin to resurface, or we can develop new ones. We could develop serious doubts about our faith or even the very existence of God.
Just like physical drought leads to wilting and stunted growth, spiritual dryness can quickly lead to a diminished and unfruitful spiritual life.
Overcoming Spiritual Dryness: How to Find Refreshing
If you are in a season of spiritual dryness, you are not alone. And there are ways to refresh your spirit and re-connect with God.
Examine Your Day-To-Day
First, examine what’s going on in your life. If your time with God has been crowded out by too much busyness, rearrange your priorities. If uncontrollable life circumstances have consumed your life, recognize and acknowledge this. Give yourself grace but find a way to stay close to God and connected to other believers.
God can provide restoration and refreshing during even just a few minutes alone with him. Find creative ways to get your spiritual food, such as listening to the Bible instead of reading or praying and worshiping while driving or doing chores.
And during the chaos, always keep your eyes fixed on the Lord.
Pray and Worship
This is a time to seek God. In Jeremiah 29:13 God’s promise to us is that “you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”
Pray until you become drenched in the Holy Spirit, and remember that, as plants need rainwater, we need living water. In John 7:37 Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” And never forget to give praise and worship God, even in this desolate place.
Prioritize Spiritual Disciplines
Recommit yourself to good spiritual disciplines. Read God’s Word and spend time alone with him whenever possible. The Lord always speaks to us through his Word and meets us when we take time to be with him.
Examine Yourself
Take an inward look for any sin or disobedience. If you are struggling to overcome serious sin, seek help from a trusted mentor. If you have been disobedient, selfish, angry, or doubtful, take time to repent. God is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (I John 1:9).
Remember that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)! If you have disobeyed God’s voice, turn back to him, ask for forgiveness and guidance, and obey. Remember that, whenever God calls us to serve him, he equips us to do the job.
Aim to Learn
If you believe you’re going through a test or trial, ask God what he wants you to learn and praise him during this difficult time. He will either calm your storm or walk through the storm with you. Remember that he has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Restore Your Faith and Overcome Spiritual Dryness
During a season of spiritual dryness, it may seem like an endless drought with widespread damage, but our spiritual cracks and crevices can be healed. As the rain restores the ground and revives the plants, the living water of the Holy Spirit can and will refresh and restore us. All we need to do is seek him!
“And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. ”