Spiritual Dry Season, when do they set in? You don’t always see them coming. One day, you’re on fire for God, and the next, your spirit feels quiet. I’ve felt both!
- I’ve felt God.
- I’ve felt the Holy Spirit.
And it feels so good when God touches your heart and stirs up your spirit. You can’t get enough of him. You’re so full of him that his presence bends your body to his will. You pray like never before. You read and meditate on his word. And you yearn for more of him.
But there are times when you don’t feel anything. Your soul feels quiet. You pray, but nothing flows. You open your Bible, but the words feel hollow. It’s like you’ve lost your zeal to worship and serve.
I’ve been in a spiritual dry season, and maybe you have too. You’re just sitting in the middle of it, wondering if something’s wrong with you.
You’re not alone.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Recognizing the Spiritual Dry Season
Spiritual dryness doesn’t always come with a warning. For me, it crept in slowly, particularly after childbirth, during late-night feedings, and in between managing school assignments and house chores. I didn’t stop loving God. I just felt far from Him.
And yet, I kept showing up, even if it meant simply murmuring, “Thank you, God!”
What I’ve Learned in the Silence
Spiritual dry season can make you feel empty inside. You feel this void inside you that needs to be filled. It’s like you’re disconnected from a source of power.
Even more so, you feel that there’s a knock on the door of your spirit, something or someone waiting to be let in again to take control. And that’s God doing everything he can to reclaim his child, his daughter, again.
Sometimes, you don’t sense or hear anything at all. You just go about your usual daily activities. You wake up in the morning and you realize your day is completed without getting started because you have to feed your baby, cook, clean, study, and do business.
This routine goes on and on, with you get very little sleep or rest. Gradually, you fall down the slippery slope. You don’t read the bible, meditate on the word, go to church, or pray.
Till you chance on something that reminds you that your spirit is dry and needs the living waters to stir it up. It could be a dream, a discernment, a trance, someone, or a reel on social media calling you to get up and pray.
Sometimes, a spiritual dry season helps you realize how much you need God in your life and how much God loves you.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” – Psalm 42:2 (NIV)
How I’m Finding My Way Back
- Short, honest prayers: Sometimes, it’s not the long hours of prayer that connect you to God. The simple. prayers do, too. I find the simple, short prayers effective when I just want to have friendly conversations with God. “Hey God, I miss you. Please help me find my way back.” Or “Hi father, there’s a weight on my heart. Please take it away.” And when I have too much in my mind say, “I give you control over my thoughts, God.”
- Worship music while doing chores: Worship songs help a lot. They open your heart to receive the spirit of God. So that you can hear his voice when you worship along with the songs you’re listening to. Whenever I’m cooking or cleaning, I connect my phone to a cute Bluetooth speaker I have then I play a worship playlist I have on YouTube. This way, I’m doing my chores, but I’m also praying in my heart. I find this helpful, especially when I couldn’t do my quiet time in the morning.
- Devotionals made for moms or busy believers: I follow a few spiritually inspiring women online who share devotionals specifically for moms and busy believers. I’ve subscribed to receive daily devotions from them. So, when I wake in the morning, or when my baby is napping and I have a few minutes of free time to myself, I open the devotions and my bible and use it for my quiet time. Sometimes I just go on YouTube to listen to the devotions while doing my chores.
- Sharing how I feel with someone I trust spiritually: You need to have at least one person you trust who can help you get back on your feet when you’re in a spiritual dry season. I mostly share how I feel with my husband and my sister. These two wonderful souls have always nourished me with the right message, spiritually backed, to get me on my feet. I go to my sister, Comfort, when I want to stir up my prayer life, and I also go to my husband when I want a different perspective on a bible verse I’m pondering on.
These small steps remind me that faith isn’t about having it all together. It’s about returning to the Source (God) again and again.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 (ESV)
If You’re There Too…
Don’t guilt yourself. I used to think that distance meant that I had lost my way, that I was rebelling as a Christian. But now I see that a spiritual dry season can be a call to slow down, strip away the noise, and grow deeper roots- even if the soil feels dry.
God isn’t measuring your performance. He sees your heart. This spiritual dry season doesn’t define your faith, it’s refining it. And one day, you’ll grow again.
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” – Isaiah 42:3 (NIV)
I’d love to hear from you
I know I’m not alone in this. Have you ever felt distant from God? What helped you through it? I want to hear from you, so drop a comment. Your story might encourage someone else.
May your heart be stirred again by His love. Keep showing up. He’s already reaching for you.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” -Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
FAQs on Spiritual Dry Seasons
A spiritual dry season is when your connection with God feels distant or silent. It happens when you’re occupied with life activities to the point where you barely pray, or don’t pray. Sometimes, you may be going through a tough time in life, you may think that God has given up on you, and you also give up on God. It’s common in the Christian faith walk and can follow big life transitions or burnout.
If prayer feels hard, scripture feels flat, or you feel spiritually numb- those may be signs. It’s okay. God hasn’t left. He’s working his way strongly back into your life.
Keep showing up. Short prayers, worship music, scripture journaling, or simply sitting in silence, waiting to hear his voice- these small steps help. God meets us right where we are. He meets us right when we need him.
