Be honest.  Has there ever been a time when you could not hear God’s voice?

Have you ever experienced a period of spiritual dryness?  A place some call the desert.  Let me be honest with you…the desert IS NOT a fun place.  It is dry, lonely, and HOT!

If you ever had a desert experience and are now past it, stop what you are doing and praise God.  If, however, you are approaching or are in a desert season, then maybe today’s post can help you get through it.

Everyone goes through a desert or spiritually dry seasons. Be honest, you can recall times when you did not feel “spiritually connected.” You attend church weekly, go to a Bible study or your small group, perhaps you even study your Bible, but God feels a lot more like a distant relative than somebody you are connected to.

The toughest season, and one that so many Christians seem to fight through, is the spiritual dry season–the desert. During this season our relationship with God feels distant and lifeless. Again I repeat, everyone goes through desert seasons.

When I sense God is distant, I cringe when people tell me to “pray more” or “have more faith.” Really? Is that the best you have when you see I am thirsty?  When you go through your desert season, ask yourself, is there a sin I need to abandon?

Sin Can Cause Desert Seasons

They are sins we unknowingly and knowingly commit.  If we continue committing sins we know God wants us to stop, it puts a strain on our relationship with Him.  Intuitively we know through our actions He’s distant and why He’s distant.  The strain on our relationship does not mean He does not love us.  If anything, it is a demonstration of His love to let us feel the strain sin causes and moves us to repentance. Ask the Lord to reveal any unconfessed sins of which you have not repented.  If He reveals anything to you, then confess it as sin and repent of it — even if it is a sin you have committed many times before.  After repenting, remember your worth (who you are in Christ).

Remember Your Worth

Everyone knows someone who has or had a nickname. It was not their real name, but a name someone gave them. Even as adults, many are known by their nickname. Guess who else gives nicknames? God.  Most believers do not fully understand their identity in Christ. Understanding it is a powerful key to spiritual breakthrough. In 1 Peter 2:9-10, we are told we are chosen and we are royalty. We are not chosen because of our race, gender, height, or weight, we are chosen because of God’s grace.  And, we are exalted and elevated in His presence – that is royalty!  After reflecting on your worth, then you are ready to pump up your praise.

Pump Up Your Praise

When God feels far-away it is easy to turn down our praise. During desert seasons, our praise should be seen and heard. Praise isn’t about how many times we lift our hands, but about where our worship comes from.  One of the most effective methods for fighting our despair is to NEVER stop praising God.  What we praise magnifies and grows.  I invite you to magnify God rather than your circumstance.  Do not let your feelings rob you of the opportunity to praise and thank God even when the times are not so great.  Remember, it is easy to praise God when things go well.  True men and women of character praise God through the trials as well.  Now that you are praising God even in the midst of your desert season, get up, get dressed, and go to church.

Get Up. Get Dressed. Go To Church.

When we go through desert seasons, the very place we run from is where we need to run towards – CHURCH! Guess what – you are not the only person going through a dry season. There are others who are going through something similar, or has recently been. However difficult it looks, do not stop going to church.  Healing and inspiration happens when we are together. In fact, we are better together.

As we come to the end of our journey, remember there is no one formula to fix all our troubles. Remain steadfast and dedicated to God. In the midst of your desert season, repent, remember your worth, pump up your praise.  Regardless of how you feel, get up, get dressed, and go to church.  Remember, the one thing winter, spring, summer, and fall have in common, eventually they come to an end.

What do you do when you go through dry seasons?