Hope for When You Are Spiritually Parched
Trying harder doesn’t equal success, at least not in a spiritual sense.
We can do all the “right” things and still find ourselves spiritually parched.
Photo (Fallen) by James Jordan via Flickr.
Over the past few years I’ve eagerly sought a closer relationship with the Lord, so I’ve taken some steps toward Him.
I immersed myself in His Word, sought connections with vibrant faithful Christians, set up limits on my media consumption, prayed more earnestly, even incorporated scripture memorization.
And my faith is stronger. I trust more and love deeper.
Still there are days when I feel disconnected from God—when my soul seems shriveled and sad instead of passionate and quenched.
There are times I find myself repeating the words of David, “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14)
Yet God has promised never to leave us and never to forsake us. Despite my perceptions, it is me who is rejecting and hiding. I’m the one disconnecting, not God.
I don’t disengage because I want to or because I try less. In fact, usually I am trying harder—too hard.
Instead of letting the Holy Spirit work in me, I try to work it out in my own strength. And on my own, I can make little eternal difference.
Like the apostles who were unable to remain awake with the Lord during His final evening of prayer … like Peter who disowned Jesus after His arrest instead of face persecution … my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.
I need the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We all do.
In the flesh we are dead, but the Spirit brings life.
In the flesh we are dead, but the Spirit brings life. Click To Tweet
As we continue to seek after Jesus Christ, we will indeed have times of incredible closeness, but we can also expect feelings of separation and emptiness. It is a by-product of sin.
Avoiding every spiritual desert is impossible, but we can minimize their frequency and the time we spend there. Incorporating practices that increase our biblical knowledge and understanding, that connect us with other Christians, and that keep our hearts and minds on Jesus strengthen our faith.
But more critical is to let go of simply trying harder and open up to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Take a break from doing, and invite Him to fill you.
Seek righteousness, but seek it through the power of the Holy Spirit, not your own strength.
Seek righteousness, but seek it through the power of the Holy Spirit, not your own strength. Click To Tweet
Because spiritually speaking, success is only found through the work of the Lord.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,because you can do nothing without Me” (John 15:5).
Reflections: What do you do when you feel spiritually dry? Share in the comments.
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By His grace ≈
Julie
Find hope in your real-life struggles. We'll chase it together! I am a wife; mom of 4 (including a young adult daughter with special needs); miscarriage mom of 5; author & follower of Jesus Christ. I write, edit, speak and enjoy everything outdoors.
Hi Julie, When I am spiritually dry, I just hang on! I thin k it’s inevitable. Even saints had spells of dryness. I guess it’s like a test. “Do you trust me?” that’s what God is asking. “If you can’t feel I’m there, will you keep accompanying me?” I haven’t had a dry spell in a long time. And I think it’s because I read the Word of God everyday and go to mass, and I am always with other brothers and sisters in the faith. I am part of a Covenant Community and that helps big time!!!
Great insight, Patsy! You offer helpful action points. In the end it’s about clinging to Him.
This was beautifully written.. Moments in the desert I believe are necessary. It is in the desert that our faith is tested. So all we can do during those times is to continue to seek God and Call out to him..~Blessings
And where would we be without those desert moments? Perhaps hopelessly lost. Thanks for the encouragement, Ali.
Hmm… yes. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that carries us through the desert.
Indeed! Just holding on to Him.
No getting around it, these times will come. Even Jesus experienced time in the wilderness. These times test my faith and let me see how strong or weak it is. Just putting one foot in front of the other, when the path is hard to see is difficult. Do I really trust God that He is still here, even though to me if feel like He’s skipped town? Am I will to just keep on keeping on?
I agree that these are times to just stop trying harder and lean into Him harder. Accept the fact that for the moment I don’t have an answer but that doesn’t mean that I’m hopeless. God knows where I am and He’s got His eyes on me all the time. He will not let me down.
Such truth, Mary. Thanks for sharing.
That was a beautiful post, Julie. I agree with some of the earlier comments. Those times will simply happen. I find more times than not a period of dryness happens when I let the ‘things of this world’ take up way too much space in my mind. That is the time I have to let go (once again) of the earthly things and surrender myself to the Holy Spirit
Aah–sweet surrender.
Julie, thanks for visiting me at Pursuing Heart a few days ago. And I enjoyed my visit here, especially these thoughts for when we experience times in the desert. Thanks for these words, “But more critical is to let go of simply trying harder and open up to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Take a break from doing, and invite Him to fill you.”