Have you ever visited a desert? Expanses of dry earth stretch for miles, with little to break up the emptiness. The sun beats down relentlessly, threatening to pull life from any creature exposed to its heat. There’s no water to be found, and on top of all that? Anything that grows there tends to be covered with wicked spines.
That’s how it can feel when you’re in a spiritual dry spell.
If your walk with the Lord could use an infusion of fresh water, you’re not alone! Seasons of spiritual drought are common to every believer, sooner or later—whether you’re a pastor or a relatively new believer, there are times when faith becomes routine and God seems far away; when you feel like your passion has dried up.
There are days that feel like you’re wandering through the desert.
King David was in such a state when he wrote the 63ed Psalm—in a dry place, both literally and figuratively. As he wandered through the wilderness of Judah, the beloved “man after God’s own heart” penned these desperate words:
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
~Psalm 63:1, NIV
If King David could go through a dry spell, it only makes sense that you and I sometimes experience this as well! The trick to making it through those desert times is to realize that you’re not alone in your struggle, and you don’t need to beat yourself up over a lack of faith when you find yourself feeling dry. In fact, a spiritual dry spell can serve as a reminder to take an inventory of your heart, and the experience can even help take your faith to the next level.
When you read the rest of Psalm 63, you see three steps king David took to fight spiritual drought and refresh his faith:
- Give Glory to God. Spend some time thinking about all the things the Lord has seen you through so far. Remember the times when you felt especially close to God, and write down a list of ways that He has blessed you—from the small things to the big. Thank Him for each of these, and keep the list in your pocket during the day and under your pillow at night as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” (verse 3)
“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” (verse 6)
- Spend time in worship. When you’re feeling dry, worship is just about the last thing you feel like doing. That’s not a coincidence—when you’re battling for your faith, the opposite of what you feel like doing is very often exactly what you need to do. Go for a drive and crank up your favorite worship album, or lock yourself in your room and sing a hymn or two. Although it may feel awkward at first, if you persevere you’ll soon find that your mood has lifted and you’re feeling life flowing back into your heart.
“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” (verses 4 & 5)
“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” (verse 7)
- Cling to the Lord. No matter what you’ve been going through, the Lord has been right there with you. Sometimes it might not feel like it, but He sees your struggles and He cares about your suffering! It’s human nature to want to be able to handle life on your own, to rely on your own strength and not have to depend on anyone else to get you through. But the truth is, it often takes more strength and courage to let it go and trust in God!
“I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” (verse 8)
When we cling to our Father, we can rest assured that He is at work on our behalf. Like a good daddy, God knows what’s best for us and He has the resources to provide for it…resources that we humans can’t even comprehend. Even when things don’t look good from this side of Heaven, God knows how to work it all for good and He’s got our best interests in mind. It’s OK to let go and trust Him to take care of us.
These simple lessons taken from King David’s desert experience are timeless ways to fight spiritual dryness and refresh your faith. Although the desert can be hot, dry and prickly, it’s the perfect place to find yourself with no distractions and nothing but God to rely on. That’s often exactly what’s needed to help you hit the reset button and get back on the right track!