What causes spiritual dryness?

Spiritual dryness can be an incredibly difficult feeling to grapple with, bringing with it a sense of emptiness and disconnection from God. The discomfort of this state can be further compounded by not understanding what has caused it in the first place. In this article, we will discuss the contributing factors of spiritual dryness and how it can be addressed.

The Causes of Spiritual Dryness

Many different factors can contribute to spiritual dryness, including a career over soul imbalance, the availability trap, a seven-day workweek, neglect of responsibilities, and things like lust, pride and sin.

A career over soul imbalance occurs when someone’s ministry, work or leadership is prioritized over connecting with God. As time spent devoted to spiritual pursuits declines, an individual’s relationship with God may suffer, leading to a state of spiritual dryness.

The availability trap is when one feels that they must always be available to others, particularly if they are in a position of leadership. This often leads to putting one’s own spiritual needs on the backburner, and can lead to a disconnect from God. Being constantly ‘on’ can also lead to serious burnout, exacerbating spiritual dryness.

A seven-day workweek is a common factor in spiritual dryness, leading to greater stress and neglect of other pursuits in life, including spiritual ones. When people are overworked and exhausted, they often struggle to effectively manage their spiritual lives, leading to a spiritual dry spell.

Lack of commitment to spiritual activities and responsibilities can also contribute to spiritual dryness, particularly if this neglect leads to the neglect of one’s own spiritual goals. Furthermore, unchecked infatuation with the world or unconfessed sin can both be detrimental, leading to greater spiritual dry spells.

The Symptoms of Spiritual Dryness

The experience of spiritual dryness is a unique and deeply personal one, with individuals feeling a range of emotions and physical symptoms including depression, anger and fatigue. Additionally, some people may find that their emotional lives become more fragile and their ability to cope with stress decline. Further, spiritual dryness is often reflected in one’s lack of spiritual giftings, including lack of joy and an inability to give to others effectively.

Overcoming Spiritual Dryness

The most effective way to combat spiritual dryness is to address the core concerns that cause it. If one’s spiritual dryness is caused by an overcommitment, an individual should strive to build breaks and down-time into their lives and re-evaluate their priorities. A lack of commitment to spiritual responsibilities needs to be addressed with the rededication and recommitment of oneself to God, while unconfessed or unresolved sin must be talked out and brought before God.

Spiritual dryness can also be addressed by making time for prayer, remembering to appreciate and rejoice in our relationship with God, and engaging in meaningful individual and group outreach activities. Taking part in activities like reading scripture, joining Bible studies, attending church and engaging in weekly personal reflection can help individuals reconnect with the Holy Spirit and their faith, providing a much-needed sense of spiritual connection.

In conclusion, spiritual dryness is a difficult experience that is not to be taken lightly. It can have serious consequences and needs to be addressed urgently. By understanding what can cause spiritual dryness and how to address it, we can help ourselves and our brethren to reconnect with God and better manage our spiritual lives.