Running On Empty

It is normal to go through high and low periods in your relationship with God. This is usually referred to as spiritual dryness, or a spiritual funk. Because as Christian disciples we get used to a certain level of intimacy with God, and dryness puts a damper on things doesn’t it? We feel separated from God, and no one likes to go through separation because it can be painful and lonely.

Thankfully, we have an extremely loving and patient God that understands us very well. We should always strive to have the best relationship with Jesus Christ that we can possibly have. However, we have to be realistic. After all, we are only human. The reality is, spiritual dryness comes, and it simply may be a clue it’s time for you to slow down and re-evaluate what’s happening in your life.

Some possible reasons for your spiritual dryness might be:

1. Unconfessed sin in your life: Because sin causes a barrier between ourselves and God. It breaks our fellowship by grieving and quenching the Spirit of God from working in our lives. So, if unconfessed sin is an issue, if it is where we are at – then to resolve things, to get back on track with God, we must agree with God where we have blown it and restore the relationship, the connection with God.
2. Due to your emotions or feelings; an affective breakdown: We may not feel alive to God, but it does not mean God is not alive to us. From God’s perspective, the Lord still treasures our fellowship. And the good news is, God’s presence remains, though we may not feel it.
3. Physiological: Do we really feel like praying when we have a cold, or sinus problems, or allergies, or feel run down, or are exhausted from lack of sleep? When we physically are not at 100%, it affects our whole being.
4. Underfeeding or starving our souls: Perhaps our walk with God is a hit and miss relationship. We have a devotional time when we can fit it in with our hurried schedules. But most of the time - God gets squeezed out of the picture. We lack the intentionality and regularity of communing with the Lord.
5. Trying to imitate the pattern of someone else: The good news is, we can get some great ideas from others, its not necessary to always reinvent the wheel. But our spiritual formation is personalized to fit us. What works for someone else, may not work for you and me.
6. Life Changes: Things such as a death in the family, a life-threatening disease, a severe illness, moving to a new area, changing schools, establishing new friendships and saying goodbye to old friends, divorce, unemployment, pregnancy, newly married, the birth of children and so on.
7. Spiritual Changes: The book of Hebrews in chapter five (5:11-14), discusses the need to move from the milk of the word to the meat. As we grow deeper in our relationship with God, we can’t stay where we are at. That will not satisfy us. We will need to try something new or move to a new area of spiritual learning where we will be stretched beyond our comfort zones. Or, God might be saying to you in your situation, that is enough studying for now, you need to apply some of your learning so I can teach you more.

The good news is, if you are going through a period of dryness, the rivers of life will flow again. Your task is to remain persistent, to practice the spiritual disciplines faithfully, whether you feel like it or not. You are to expose yourself to God’s Spirit, allowing God‘s grace and anointing to touch your life. Whether you sense the growth or not, as long as you place yourself in the Sonshine with plenty of water, like a plant, you will eventually grow. You must remind yourself always, God has not left. The Lord is more eager for your fellowship that you are of His. -Dr. Gary R. Glanville, Pastor

See Scriptures: Psalm 66:18; Psalm 32:1-5; Lamentations 3:40-42, 44; Isaiah 1:15-16; and Isaiah 59:2

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, I pray that you will lead me out of this spiritual desert that I find myself in;
For this is a most desolate place, where I find myself at the moment, this spiritual dryness;
But I draw comfort in knowing, that you will soon take my hand and lead me back to your fertile ground; where love, peace, and understanding abide together under your glorious care.
Oh, Holy Father, please don’t be long, for I thirst for the quenching taste of your eternal waters. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Kristen