When I Feel Spiritually Dry

What do we do when we feel…nothing? When we’re spiritually dry, reading Psalm 139, particularly verses 13-16, we see that our God knew us before we were born, created with intention, and knows all of our days. We must be careful not to let that knowledge become too common for us to appreciate. It’s really incredible and should continually leave us in awe.

Through life, we have mountains and valleys, wins and losses. We aren’t meant to live in either place, but you do have to experience both in order to appreciate the other. While we never want to be in a low place, that is where we tend to learn and grow the most, which allows us to take in and be grateful for the mountaintops. We live somewhere in the middle. When we encounter a dry season spiritually, we can fight for the middle and lean into the Lord.

Oftentimes, we will look to our circumstances and situations more, or even before we look to God to get us through. Psalm 139 doesn’t necessarily address spiritual dryness, but it does tell us who God is.

Have you ever found yourself in a dry season? Where your desire to commune with the Lord is dissipating? You might feel spiritually dry, but the truth is that God is with you every step of the way. He has searched you, He knows you, He’s discerned your thoughts. God knows your words before you speak them. He has knit you together, so He knows exactly how you are wired. He has precious thoughts toward you; infinite thoughts. You are always on His mind.

When we are faithless, God remains faithful.

If you're walking through a spiritually dry season of your life, remember:

God knows everything - we don’t. He is omniscient, all-knowing. He is not without knowledge. Psalm 139:1-6 lays out all of the things that God knows. This wondrous knowledge is beyond us. In everything that we go through in life, remember that nothing catches God by surprise or off guard. There is nothing hidden from his sight.

Don’t let this intimidate you. Yes, God may have to discipline, but lean in. It’s His kindness. When we’re struggling, we often stop doing the things that God wants us to pay attention to: we neglect being in the Word, we miss church, we avoid prayer. It’s a slow drift, and you end up spiritually parched. Don’t let yourself get parched when you’re already in the desert.

Be encouraged that He has you encircled, and nothing is hidden. Let this comfort you.

God is everywhere - we’re not. He is omnipresent. There is never a place, space, or time that He is not there. Don’t be surprised when He is working things out of your good well before you even realize it. You cannot run from His presence. He will navigate your circumstances. You may be in a dry season, but there is an oasis on the other side.

Luke 15 is the parable of the lost son. The son drove his life to ruin, but when he turned back, his father had already seen him coming. The father was looking for him the whole time. He was never off his mind. Our Father is present without fail; it’s we who need to return to Him.

God is all-powerful — we’re not. He is omnipotent. God can do anything but fail. God knit us together, which is meticulous and detailed. So, when you’re going through a dry season, remember He is the Creator, and even though you can’t see it right now, He knows the end from the beginning and is working for your good.

Here are four practical tools to come out of a dry season:

1. Don’t neglect your faith community. The enemy wants you to isolate. Community breeds accountability. Serve your way out of it.

2. Get back to the basics. Read the Bible. Get lost in the scripture for no other reason than to enjoy your relationship with God. Focus on quality over quantity.

3. Change your routine and rhythm. Listen to the Bible if you normally read. Go for a walk instead of sitting. Pray out loud rather than in your head. Write scripture down slowly.

4. Keep showing up. Just keep reading. Just keep listening. Just keep talking. Trust that He’s working.