What Is Spiritual Dryness?
Spiritual dryness is a personal experience characterized by feeling distant from God, where regular channels for connection such as praying, reading spiritual literature, and participating in community are ineffective. Most people reading this article are familiar with the school of thought that is upheld by mainstream evangelical Christianity. Proponents claim that the “cause” of spiritual dryness is rooted in the individual’s actions or failure to act, invariably include sin as first suspect to examine, and then propose other causes such as burnout, lack of spiritual nourishment, or attachment to the world or some “idol.” To unpack the richness of the term spiritual dryness, biblical references to Israel wandering around in the the desert for 40 years, drought and famine in Elijah’s day for 42 months, and Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness for 40 days are needed to shed light. Even the 400 years of silence between the prophets in the Hebrew Bible and John the Baptist provide context. So when John the Baptist quotes Isaiah 40:3 saying that he is a “voice crying out in the wilderness (desert), prepare the way of the Lord,” John the Baptist’s context is to a spiritually dry nation.
There are two perspectives on spiritual dryness: (1) one upheld by Catholic spirituality and (2) another upheld by mainstream evangelical Christianity. In Catholic thought, this FEELING DISTANT is accepted as a period for refinement of faith and results in an increased ability to love God. Mother Theresa’s diaries reveal that she faced spiritual dryness for most of her life. Established Catholic texts have coined the term “passive purification” to emphasize God’s act upon us, in contrast to our active purification through spiritual disciplines such as fasting and Bible meditation. In Evangelical Christian thought, spiritual dryness is REAL DISTANCE from God and has a negative connotation as something to be overcome. Joel Osteen preaches on the “danger of dry places” and speaks on its problems and offers biblical principles to find a solution. There is an emphasis on discovering the cause of spiritual dryness and taking actions to overcome it. It is not linked to the language of seasons because spiritual dryness is something to be avoided, a spiritual condition we bring upon ourselves.
I took a Twitter poll and found that relatively few people in my orbit see it as more of a gift:
Not many people see spiritual dryness as “more of a gift” - a lot of “equally both” but certainly not a gift.
Rather than debate between the two perspectives, I prefer to say that it doesn’t matter. When the next steps from both spiritual dryness being a GIFT or SOMETHING TO OVERCOME are exactly the same, any difference is inconsequential to what I must do today. Today, I try to comprehend it as a SEASON, something that I don’t have control over or can change. If I can’t control the season, the only thing to do is try to enjoy it.
What is a spiritual SEASON of dryness?
Like fall, winter, spring, and summer, there is nothing we can do to effect the seasons. My best bet is to try to enjoy the season I’m in. I hope this provides an ounce of freedom for those who feel guilty for feeling spiritually dry or not being being able to get “out” of spiritual dryness. Seasons are something that God leads us into, and only God will lead us out. Remember that seasons eventually pass.
To go a little deeper, spiritual seasons are defined when King Solomon writes, “For everything there is a season” in Ecclesiastes. When he describes how there is “a time for every activity” he sets up fourteen dualistic sets of activities which differ from the four-season model (fall, winter, spring, and summer) to two seasons - simply being in-season or out-of-season.
In King Solomon’s view, if you are not in a season of reaping then you are in a season of sowing, etc.
A spiritual season of dryness is marked by UNCERTAINITY and not mere a time of transition or being in between seasons. A person might say, “I don’t know what season I’m in.” Using the metaphor of “Dark Night of the Soul” is widespread in Christian community but the term is not always used as St. John of the Cross intended. Seasons of spiritual dryness are dark not because there is immense suffering and challenges, but the nights are dark because the way is unclear and the path is obscure.
Challenges and difficulties can lead to confusion when our perception of God is limited to only wanting to provide blessing and smooth sailing. However, for those who see redemptive suffering as part of God’s plan for them, these seasons can actually be saturated with meaning and certainty in the face of adversity. A spiritually dry season is about maintenance and growing, when the initial joy of a new relationship gives way to “day-in and day-out” work that results in mature love.
Difficulties can lead to confusion…
…when the initial joy gives way to “day-in and day-out” work.
What is the purpose of seasons of spiritual dryness?
Asking, “how do I overcome spiritual dryness?” can be set up for disappointment. Ultimately, understanding spiritual dryness and spiritual seasons sets us up to discover God’s purpose of leading us into these special times. In Christian faith, the purpose of seasons of spiritual dryness, or desert seasons, is to draw us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. A relationship based on a passion for God Himself rather than the emotions or gifts that he provides. In life, desert seasons are the “brick walls” that Randy Pausch famously refers to in his “Last Lecture.” In his metaphor, “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”
As I told my ideas to James, a car dealer who worked tirelessly to get me the exact deal I needed, he related. He said, “it’s like when you come back from a motivational seminar all fired up, but then all of those ideas and energy fade several months later.” In love, desert seasons follow the honeymoon phase. As in authentic friendship, the ability to communicate and work through a series of conflicts where each feels understood marks the difference between the idea of being “the one” or “best friends” to the reality of it.
Suggested next step: Read Day 02 - walk or crawl?
