All Dried Up?

I like to call it the "Dry Season of the Soul."  The spiritual high has reached a low.  The God connection is disconnected.  Our nearness to the Holy Spirit is farther away than the eye can see.  We began to wonder where God has gone and why he's being so silent.

No one likes this season.  Most avoid acknowledging they're in the midst of it until it seems as though they may not get out.  It's embarrassing to admit to others, troubling to wonder what sins might be exposing us, and frustrating.

But comfort comes in knowing that we're not along in our dry seasons.  Although we used to look upon these seasons as the "dark" times in our lives, I'm encouraged to see we have another option.  Although this season can feel very dark, we know that God has not left.  In fact, it is during these seasons that we often grow the most--though we may not see it at the time.

What does the dry season mean?  Just like the body, when it is working on something (growth, infection, healing, digesting food, etc.), most of the body's resources and attention go to that situation or task.  I get cold and tired after eating.  It's because all the blood is in my stomach and other related areas.  Plants do this too.  Computers do this.  So do our souls.  We all need continued growth, healing, repair, periods of intense learning, impetuous to change, time to process, and chances to learn from new discoveries.  The dry season is most often the marker that are souls are doing just that, and many of our familiar feelings of joy and nearness to God are on hold while our spirits do bigger, deeper, more transforming things.

The truth is, in the seasons of the sun is when we are often growing the least.  Our spiritual highs and play-by-play connections with Jesus are the times when we see results of previous pain or work fitting into place in our hearts and lives.  Although they feel the best to us, no one should wish or attempt to stay in those moments forever.  We'll never grow.

So what do we do in the dry seasons of the soul?  Here are a couple things I do in my own seasons:

1. Increase or at least keep doing my spiritual practices:  scripture, prayer, fasting, tithing, serving, etc.
2. Find a book that shakes my current way of thinking or being.
3. Attend a conference, concert, or retreat (although sometimes this leaves me feeling more void)
4. Go on a pilgrimage
5. Put myself in uncomfortable or unusual situations (of service, socially, of routine, etc.)
6. Create a list of people to pray for and notify each of them that I am praying for them
7. Ask for others to pray for me
8. Slow down so my spirit can actually do its work
9. Embrace the season and quit worrying that I've fallen from grace.  God knows my life better than I do.  Who am I to say when I should be growing and resting?

Whatever season you're in, I always recommend #9.  Look upon each as sacred, meaningful, and ultimately positive.  

More to come!

Jason <><

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