Dealing with Spiritual Dryness

What do you do in seasons of spiritual dryness?

If you’re like most, you are going to experience seasons when time with the Lord doesn’t feel as rich and satisfying as it always has been.

The easy solution might be to just tell you to not listen to your emotions and simply push through.

“Reading God’s Word is like eating your vegetables.” some might say. “It’s good for you whether you feel like you like it or not.”

While there might be some truth to that statement, that isn’t the description we see in Scripture of God’s people spending time with the Lord.

Instead, we see God’s people craving time with Him. His Word is sweeter than honey, more desired than gold. Their soul longed for Him like a deer panting for flowing streams.

How do you get back to that?

What do you do when time with God is dry or when it tastes more like vegetables than sweet honey?

Diagnosing Dryness

For one, it’s helpful to know this is normal. The fact that your heart even recognizes the difference and wants to get back to that rich time with the Lord is encouraging.

Well known Christians through every age have dealt with dry seasons. Pilgrims must travel through the valley.

As John Owen has written, “the hearts of believers are like a magnetized needle which cannot rest until it is pointing north. So also, a believer, magnetized by the love of Christ, will always be restless until he or she comes to Christ and beholds his glory.”

The restlessness you feel comes from knowing there is a glory of Christ you long to see and experience.

Why are you experiencing Dryness?

It’s one thing to identify dryness in your walk with God, it’s a whole other thing to figure out why that’s happening. Owen offers a couple of reasons you might not be seeing the glory of Christ as clearly as you could.

1. Worshipping Distracted

You know that “to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6b).” God promises peace to those whose mind is set on Him. But our minds wander. “For to set the mind on the flesh is death (Romans 8:6a)” is the contrast.

Worry, troubles, hardships, desires, fears and lusts can cloud our minds from seeing Christ clearly.

You get distracted.

Can you identify what troubles or passions are distracting your focus from Christ?

This is the prayer of Psalm 139:23-24,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24

Once God reveals those distractions, you can take them to the Lord.

2. Worshipping Works

Sometimes time with the Lord gets dry because you are so focused on the works of God or your works for God that you miss God Himself.

Our pastor pointed out an incredible insight on Easter Sunday that I had never considered. He pointed out that the empty tomb changed no one.

The empty tomb left Mary confused, the disciples doubting & hiding, and the Jews devising plots to cover it up.

It was only when Mary heard her name from the voice of the risen Christ that she was changed. The disciples finally understood after they met Jesus on the road. Thomas believed once he felt Jesus’ scars.

Lots of people saw the empty tomb, but no one who encountered the Risen Savior left unchanged.

What’s the point?

The works of God are not the object of our worship. Jesus is. If there is any lesson to be learned from the Israelites in the desert is that seeing the miracles and works of God was not enough for them to obey God.

When your focus shifts from Christ to Christ’s works you are in danger of dryness.

When your focus shifts from Christ to Christ's works you are in danger of dryness. Click To Tweet

Many campus ministers and laborers can get so caught up in the work of God that they forget to worship God.

If you’re experiencing dryness, are you more caught up in performing for Christ than you are being with Christ?

Again Owen is clear, “The ultimate rest, blessedness and satisfaction of the soul does not come from seeing the works of God, but from seeing the glorious God himself.”

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE:

To which of the dangers do you most relate? Once you identify which one could be contributing to your dryness, it’s time to confess and return to “

John Owen gives 4 recommendations you can do right now:

1. Decide in your mind that seeing the glory of Christ is the greatest privilege.

If you’re not careful what is extraordinary can quickly become common. When you get a new iPhone you take extra care of it. No one wants to drop it on day 1! You’re cautious. You get a case to protect it. But it easily stops “wowing” you after a day or two. It’s common.

You can’t let your relationship with Christ become common. You need to regularly remind yourself of the unfathomable privilege of knowing Jesus. Think about it! The God of the universe chose to save you from eternal condemnation by His grace and adopted you into His family so that you could have an eternal relationship with Him. And you have it! You have access to Him. You have to remind yourself of that privilege.

2. Commit to God’s tool He has provided to have your eyes enlightened to His glory — which is fervent prayer.

A deep, abiding relationship with Christ is a mystery and God has given us the means by which we can understand it — prayer. It’s rare that my prayer life is active and my devotions feel dry. These usually go hand in hand.

If you’re experiencing a dry season, ask God about it! Make prayer a priority. Paul asked God that his disciples would have “the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…” (Eph 1:18).

3. Remember how easily you once set your mind on worldly things.

Remember how much you looked forward to the weekend, the hookup, the payday or countless worldly desires that consumed your attention. I doubt you never described those desires as “dry.”

What’s the point? You know how to be passionate about things! Commit to channel that passion and energy towards the Lord. Don’t look forward to the next episode of your favorite show more than you look forward to spending time with the Lord. This is a discipline to which you must commit. As Owen says, “Lazy souls do not get the tiniest sight of his glory.”

4. Fix your eyes on the person of Jesus more than creation or information.

In dry seasons, God seems abstract. It can feel like I’m talking into the air. Sometimes people search for a deep connection with God through nature or through music to “mix things up” in their quiet times. Yes, the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), but not the same way Jesus does. 

Jesus reveals the character and nature of God to us. That’s why Paul reminded Timothy to, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead…” (2 Tim. 2:8).

Focusing on Jesus should always be your goal, but especially when you’re feeling disconnected. Don’t settle for vague references to God or unreliable feelings that come from nature. Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2) and the truth He has revealed about Himself.

The next time you read the Bible, focus less on gathering information and more on being present with Jesus. Be still. Be present.

Then take what Jesus teaches you about Himself and go put it into practice.

Questions for reflection:

1. Which of the dangers you believe distract you the most from seeing Christ clearly?
2. Which of the recommendations would help you connect with Christ more right now? How?