Have you ever felt like your faith is dry and barren? Like you are going through the motions of praying, reading the Bible, and attending church, but nothing seems to touch your soul? You don’t feel any connection to God? You may even be reluctant to or feel that you cannot pray. It’s like when it is raining in your city all the time, but no rain is falling in your area or zip code. You are not alone. You are in a spiritually dry place. Many Christians experience seasons when they are spiritually dry or when they feel distant and separated from God, and struggle to find joy and peace in their relationship with Him.
This is often because of things happening in your life that are affecting your thoughts. Spiritual droughts also occur when the children of God are not doing what God has asked them to do. You need to understand that you are in a spiritual struggle and by reading the bible you can gain insight and draw strength to overcome hard times. There are many spiritual dryness Bible verses about being separated from God and how to overcome it.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NIV), sheds some light on this feeling. It states, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”
Examples from the Bible
These types of droughts are not abnormal in the life of a believer. Elijah, David, Peter, and Job are just a few of the people, mentioned in the Bible, who went through periods of spiritual dryness. Sometimes they experienced a spiritual drought and at other times both a physical and a spiritual drought occurred at the same time.
Elijah, as he sat by the brook of Cherith as it was dying up, experienced both. 1 Kings 17:7, “And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” God sustained Elijah and provided for Him. At another time Elijah became despondent when Jezebel threatened to kill him. He fled for his life and went into a cave to hide. God asked him a question in 1 Kings 19:9, “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” Elijah thought that he was the only righteous person left and he was in danger of being killed.
David had many spiritual droughts and wilderness experiences. He was being hunted by Saul and was in fear for his life. He cried out to God many times and wrote several Psalms where he asked God to save him from his enemies. Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.”
Peter had a spiritual drought after he denied Jesus thrice. He was so discouraged that he went back to do the work he was doing when Jesus had called him. It was for Peter’s good, however. Jesus spoke to him before that in Luke 22:31-32. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Even though he had been prepared he still struggled to overcome what he had done.
We want you to know that there is hope. God has not abandoned you, and He is still working in your life, even when you can’t see or feel it. The devil may want to tell you that you are on your own, that God doesn’t care, or you are too insignificant for him to even remember you, and that you are better off just forgetting about Him and relying on yourself instead. Friend, beware! Do you remember how he tried to tempt Jesus? He dared Jesus to cast Himself down from a mountain. He is a trickster and a liar. The Bible tells you to resist the devil and he will flee from you. We have to overcome him daily. God has given us the power to overcome hard times. Paslm 40:1-2 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Jesus when He was on the cross cried out, “’Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” In the body of a man he felt forsaken at that time.
Ways to Condition Yourself to Survive a Spiritual Drought
1. Acknowledge your situation. Don’t deny or ignore your feelings of emptiness and frustration. Be honest with yourself and with God about what you are going through. Trust God and exercise your faith in His word. Tell Him how you feel and ask Him to help you. He already knows your heart and is not offended by your emotions. He wants you to come to Him with all your burdens and cares. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
2. Seek to find the root cause. Sometimes, a spiritual drought can be caused by sin, disobedience, or unconfessed issues in your life. If that is the case, you need to repent and ask God for forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Other times, a spiritual struggle can be a result of a trial, a loss, or a change in your circumstances. If that is the case, you need to trust God’s sovereignty and goodness and remember that He works all things together for your good (Romans 8:28).
At other times, a spiritual drought can be a part of God’s refining process, where He allows you to go through a season of testing to strengthen your faith and draw you closer to Him. Proverbs 17:3 in The Passion Translation of the Bible states, “In the same way that gold and silver are refined by fire, the Lord purifies your heart by the tests and trials of life.” When you are being tested, you need to persevere and endure hardship as part of the discipline that God wants you to master (Hebrews 12:7). Job 23:10 (NLT), “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
3. Renew your mind. A spiritual drought can affect your thoughts and emotions, making you feel depressed, anxious, or hopeless. That is why you must renew your mind with God’s truth and promises. Read His Word daily, meditate on it, memorize it, and apply it to your life. His Word is alive and powerful, and it can transform your mind and renew your spirit (Romans 12:2). Also, seek Christian inspiration and Christian motivation. Listen to uplifting music, podcasts, sermons, or audiobooks that can inspire you and fill you with hope. Hebrews 10:25, “… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
4. Reconnect with others. A spiritual drought can make you feel isolated and lonely as if no one understands or cares about what you are going through. That is why you need to reconnect with other believers who can support you, encourage you, pray for you, and hold you accountable. Don’t isolate yourself or withdraw from fellowship. Seek out a trusted friend, a mentor, a pastor, or a counselor who can walk with you through this season. Enlisting sources of Christian encouragement is important. Join a small group, a cell group, a Bible study, or a church ministry where you can serve others and grow in your faith. Attend church and fellowship with other believers. This is something that the Bible implores and encourages us to do.
5. Be patient and hopeful. Don’t expect your spiritual drought to end overnight. It may take some time for God to work in your life and restore your joy. But don’t lose hope either. Remember that God is faithful, and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He loves you and He has a purpose for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). He will complete the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6). Trust in His timing and His ways.
6. Rekindle your passion. A spiritual drought can dampen your passion and enthusiasm for God and His kingdom. That is why you need to rekindle your first love for Him by remembering what He has done for you and how much He loves you. Spend time in His presence, worship Him with all your heart, thank Him for His grace and mercy, and praise Him for His attributes and deeds. Ask Him to restore the joy of your salvation and to fill you with His Spirit (Psalm 51:12). Also, seek out new ways to express your love for Him, such as journaling, art, music, poetry, or any other creative outlet that honors Him.
Conclusion
Remember that a spiritual drought is a part of your journey. God knows everything about you including your thoughts. It is a temporary season that you can overcome through His grace and mercy. He has not forsaken you; He is with you always (Matthew 28:20). He will never stop loving you; His love is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). He will never stop working in you; He will complete the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6). He will never stop satisfying you; He is the living water that quenches your thirst (John 4:14). When you are distanced from God inspiring messages can help you to get over it. You need to fellowship with other believers and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Rest in the assurance that He is with you and will never leave you or forsake you. This too will pass and you will overcome. Our hope is not for an earthly reward but for the eternal reward of life in Christ Jesus our Lord.