7 Ways to Abide When You Feel Spiritually Dry

Daily life can be hard. Routines are good, but when heartache lingers in the shadows, routines are not comforting. Waking up each morning we struggle to find the strength to get up and do the next, good spiritual thing. The pressures of decisions, the anxiety of waiting for results, the shifting of circumstances tear apart our emotions. One minute we are fine the next we are crying. Our hearts fall into a spiritually dry, desert season during times like this. How do we abide in Christ when we feel spiritually dry? 

Reading our Bibles, praying, going to church, and serving all flow from our hearts and if our hearts are broken, these things break as well. It is easier to sleep in on Sunday mornings than putting ourselves together and going to church. The Bible’s comforts are hard to find when we are wading through seasons of sorrow. Discouragement leads to prayerlessness. Why pray when all of our prayers are going unanswered? 

Abiding in Christ

In those moments, abiding can be hard, but abiding is absolutely the key to surviving those seasons as well. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 

Abiding is about longing. 

We continue to remain, abide, dwell, and live with Jesus because He is our life. In Psalm 42:1 the author says: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” 

Are you longing for Jesus? Do you search, seek, and thirst for Him? I think we can all say that once we have experienced abiding in Jesus, we desire to always have it. If you have never had that joy of being with Jesus like that, I encourage you to try simply to long for Him. 

Read through Psalm 42 and see that the author does two things to revive his spiritually dry heart. He remembers and he hopes. What does he remember? The author remembers what God has done, and who God is. Then, he sets his hope on God, despite his circumstances and his feelings. Let me give you some practical help when it comes to meeting with Jesus during a spiritually dry season. 

Seven Ways to Abide When You Feel Spiritually Dry

1. Get a devotional book. Normally, I would say that studying the Bible on your own is best. But when our hearts are weary, discouraged, and tired, a devotional book is always a good idea. Here is a good one you might like. 
2. Listen to an audio devotional. I recently discovered Sing and I love it so much! You can listen for free and sign up to get a text message when a new one arrives. 
3. Have a simple reading plan. Read one psalm slowly each day. You can check out the podcast and start there. Let the words of those psalms become your prayers. 
4. Tell God how you feel. Don’t pray with a list, but simply come to God and talk to Him. Be honest with Him. God is not intimidated by your questions, frustrations, or weariness. Sometimes the first step toward renewed intimacy is simply saying: God, I feel far from you. 
5. Play worship music as you go about your day. You don’t have to sing along or feel like singing at all. Just listen to the words and ask God to help you. Fill your quiet moments with truth about God. 
6. Spend time with other believers. Isolation often deepens spiritual dryness. A conversation, church service, Bible study, or coffee with a trusted friend can remind us of truths we’ve forgotten.
7. Keep showing up. Continue opening your Bible. Continue praying. Continue coming to church. Continue abiding. The roots are still growing even when you cannot see the fruit.

Spiritual dryness is not proof that God has left. Often it is an invitation to seek Him more deeply. Keep coming to Jesus. The One who promised to abide in you has not gone anywhere.