Psalm 63:1…my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.
Sometimes, in any Christian life, we go through dry spells. It’s normal. Even though it is impossible to be a saved Christian and not believe in supernatural miracles, sometimes we just don’t see it. We know Jesus rose from the dead, was born of a virgin, but sometimes this knowledge doesn’t impact us like it should. Especially if you have spent a lot of time serving the Lord, in a ministry where signs and wonders have abounded. There are times when nothing happens. Everything screeches to a halt, for years perhaps. Sometimes it’s our fault. Sometimes it isn’t. That doesn’t change who God is, nor does it change our relationship with Him. Our feelings have absolutely nothing to do with anything. Dryness is a feeling, nothing more.
There’s lots of teaching right now (intentionally or not), that Christians should go by feelings. Feelings have absolutely nothing to do with the Lord’s blessings or disapproval. Nor do many other physical things or spiritual manifestations. Sometimes, you do the most for the Kingdom of God in your driest, most disheartening moments. Just being someplace at the right time could have a huge ministry affect on someone.
Satan (or his minions) will whisper things like, ‘if you feel bad, dry, disheartened, or are sick and broke, it means you haven’t prayed enough’ or ‘read the Bible enough’ or ‘evangelized someone today’. Another form of condemnation is that you haven’t gone to church enough. That is not Biblical. It is pure condemnation. God’s not hearing your prayer because you have unrepentant sin. If you are saved, He hears your sin, He doesn’t hear the prayer of a ‘sinner’ (John 9:21) which is someone who isn’t saved.
Common misconceptions and how to break them.
1. Feelings have nothing to do with your walk (or standing) with the Lord. Just because you feel dry means nothing. Dryness creates thirst. Drink more water! (The Word of God is described as water in the Bible). The Word if God will quench your thirst, whether by reading it or sharing it. I was dry and disheartened when I started writing this. Now I am not.
2. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more or less. Rest in Him. Let your life be an expression of your love for Him.
3. God heard your prayers if you are saved. Whether you think He does or not. And if you pray according to His Word and Will, His answer is always yes. The key is knowing His will.
4. Only God is omnipresent. That mean He is always right there. He is never distant. It’s impossible.
5. Your problems are happening because you haven’t gone to church, read the Bible, or prayed enough. Again, wrong. Granted to more time you spend praying in the spirit (not with your mind, but listening more than talking) and reading God’s Word, the more revelation you’ll get BUT it has nothing to do with God’s anger.
6. God is never distant from you. Impossible, He’s omnipresent. (See #4)
God is madly in love with you.
How do you get out of a dry spell? First off, you don’t, just deal with it. It will disappear on it’s own. Don’t talk about it. Don’t complain about it. I have found (like the Israelites in the wilderness) that murmuring just keeps you in a dry and arid land a lot longer than necessary. It is extremely important for you to just plug your way through it, head held high (yes, head held high makes a huge difference over a hanging head), doing what is right and guarding your heart. In spite of how you feel, keep talking and acting like a Christian. God said He put the Israelites in the desert to show them what was in their hearts. He already knew, but He wants us to know.
Deut 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
An atheist friend said today that my answer to questions was too simple. (As in ignorant). Basically, it was! I said that all people fall into two categories. Those who believe that Jesus is God, and was raised from the dead and those who don’t believe. The rest is conjecture. He brought up a bunch of stuff. I said no, either you are a believer or not. He said ‘too simple!’. It really is that simple. If you are a believer, who cares if you feel dry. Just keep believing, oh and drink plenty of water!
Matt 18:3-4 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
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