Spiritually Dry? Don’t miss these five desert lessons

Spiritually Dry? Don’t Miss These 5 Desert Lessons

Hey there, friends. Ever feel like your spiritual life has hit a bit of a dry patch? Like your prayers are just kind of bouncing off the ceiling, your Bible feels more like a textbook than a treasure map, and that vibrant connection with God feels…distant? You’re not alone. Trust me, that feeling of spiritual dryness is something so many of us who follow Jesus can relate to. It can be really disheartening, even make us question things.

Over my years in ministry, and especially during my time as a pastor, this theme has come up time and time again. We all long for that deep, meaningful connection with God, that sense of growth and purpose. So, when it feels absent, it can be tough.

As I’ve personally wrestled with these seasons and walked alongside others, I often find myself drawn to the stories in the Bible that mirror these experiences. One that stands out so powerfully is the journey of the Israelites after their incredible rescue from slavery in Egypt. They were headed towards the Promised Land, full of hope, but their journey took them through a vast and challenging desert.

Now, their desert was a physical reality, but I truly believe their experiences hold profound lessons for us in our own spiritual “desert” seasons – those times when we feel spiritually parched or like we’re not growing.

Just as God had purposes and lessons for the Israelites in that wilderness, I believe He has them for us too in our times of spiritual dryness.

Think about it: here were the Israelites, a people who had witnessed God’s miraculous power firsthand. Yet, in the desert, they often felt a sense of lack, of being unfulfilled, even longing for the perceived “comforts” of their past, even though those comforts came at the steep price of their freedom. Sound familiar? Sometimes when we feel spiritually dry, we might find ourselves longing for past spiritual highs or familiar routines, even if those weren’t necessarily leading to deep growth.

So, what can we learn from their time in the wilderness? What key lessons did God offer amidst
their “dryness” that can speak to us today? Let’s explore a few:

Lesson 1: Recognizing True Nourishment. Remember the manna? Every morning, God provided this unique food. It wasn’t what they were used to in Egypt, but it was exactly what they needed to sustain them. I think in our spiritual dryness, God might be gently guiding us to see that true nourishment comes from Him alone, not just from those familiar emotional highs or specific church experiences we might crave. Maybe He wants us to discover a deeper reliance on His Word itself, even when it doesn’t feel immediately sensational.

Lesson 2: The Importance of Trusting God’s Provision. Consider the story of the water from the rock. In a completely barren place, God miraculously provided. When we feel spiritually parched, it can be easy to think there’s no way we can be refreshed. But just like with the Israelites, God has ways to provide that we might not even imagine. Maybe it’s through a quiet moment of reflection, a conversation with a friend, or a verse that suddenly jumps off the page – God’s provision can come in unexpected ways.

Lesson 3: Humility and Dependence Beyond Feelings. Deuteronomy reminds us that God led them through the wilderness to humble them and to teach them that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Our spiritual dryness can be a humbling experience. It can strip away our reliance on fleeting feelings and push us to a deeper dependence on God’s unchanging truth, on His steadfast character, even when we don’t feel close to Him. It’s about trusting that He is still God, even when our emotions are flat.

Lesson 4: The Consequences of Complacency and Looking Back. We see the Israelites complaining about the manna, longing for the “good old days” of Egypt, even though those days included slavery. Sometimes, when we’re in a dry season, we can become complacent with where we are, or we can idealize past spiritual experiences, forgetting the challenges or lack of growth that might have been present then too. God wants us to move forward, not just long for what was.

Lesson 5: The Need for Obedience and Following God’s Guidance. Their entire journey through the desert was about following God’s leading, even when it didn’t make sense. Our spiritual dryness might be a prompting to re-examine our lives and see if there are areas where we’re not fully obeying God’s current call. It might be a gentle nudge to step out in faith in a new area or to address something He’s been speaking to us about.

So, if you’re feeling that familiar twinge of spiritual dryness, take heart. What have you been relying on lately for your spiritual fulfillment? Could God be inviting you to find your primary sustenance in Him alone? Where might God be trying to show you His unexpected sources of refreshment? How might this feeling of dryness be prompting you to depend more on His unchanging Word and His steadfast character? Are there areas in your life where you’ve become complacent, or are you constantly looking back?

And finally, is there a gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit, an area of obedience that you might be hesitant to step into? It’s so important to recognize that we can miss these vital lessons in our spiritual desert. We
might become discouraged and pull away from the very things that can help us – prayer, Bible study, community. We might try to fill that emptiness with things that ultimately leave us even more parched.

But the good news is that even in these dry seasons, growth is absolutely possible. It often requires intentionality. Keep showing up for your time with God, even if you don’t feel like it. Continue to pray, even if the words feel hollow. Keep reading your Bible, trusting that God’s truth is still powerful even when our emotions are more muted. Maybe try seeking God in new ways – praying while you walk, journaling your prayers, or exploring a new book of the Bible. Serving others can also be incredibly refreshing. And please, don’t isolate yourself. Reach out to trusted Christian friends, share what you’re going through, and allow them to pray for you and encourage you.

Just like the Israelites in the desert, our seasons of spiritual dryness are not wasted time. They can be powerful opportunities for God to teach us, to refine us, and to draw us into a deeper dependence on Him. It might not feel good in the moment, but trust that God has a purpose.

I’d love to hear from you, our wonderful 9B.News community. Can you relate to this feeling of spiritual dryness? What do you think God might be inviting you to learn or do in this season?

And if you feel comfortable, please share one practical step you’re taking to seek God during this
time. You can reach me (Pastor Thad) at YourJesusJourney@gmail.com.

Remember, even in the driest of seasons, God’s love and faithfulness remain. May you find
refreshment and renewed strength in Him today.

PS: I’d like to invite you to check out our Live Daily Bible Podcast on YouTube. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/@YourJesusJourney