Trusting God When You Feel Spiritually Dry

Some seasons of faith don’t come with big storms or dramatic battles. Instead, they come quietly—with dryness. You go to church, you pray, you try to read your Bible… but it all feels flat. You’re showing up, but the connection feels distant.

Spiritual dryness can sneak in slowly, often during long seasons of waiting or disappointment. You might not even notice it at first. But over time, your faith feels more like duty than delight.

If you’ve ever found yourself there—or if that’s where you are right now—you’re not alone. In this post, we’re talking about what it means to trust God even when your heart feels dull and your spirit feels dry.

This isn’t about faking joy or forcing spiritual energy. It’s about honesty, surrender, and rediscovering closeness with a God who hasn’t gone anywhere, even if He feels far away.

I’ve been there. Not in a dramatic, walk-away-from-my-faith kind of way, but in the slow fade that happens when life gets heavy and hope feels distant.

There was a stretch of time—longer than I’d like to admit—when I was still “doing the Christian things.” I prayed (sort of), read my Bible (occasionally), and kept showing up at church. From the outside, everything probably looked fine. But inside? I felt numb.

I wasn’t angry at God. I just wasn’t feeling much of anything. It was like I was going through the motions, hoping that eventually my heart would catch up. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. At least, not for a while.

Looking back, I can see now that I was spiritually dry. I was waiting on God for something that seemed like it would never come, and the longer I waited, the more my faith felt… flat. My prayers became mechanical. Worship didn’t stir me. I felt disconnected from the God I said I trusted.

But here’s the thing: God hadn’t moved. He was still near, even when I didn’t feel it.

Looking back, I didn’t realize just how dry I had become until I opened my Bible one morning—not out of passion, but obligation—and these words stopped me in my tracks:

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” —James 4:8

It was simple. Clear. No conditions or qualifiers. Not Come near when you feel it, or Come near when your heart is on fire. Just… come.

That verse pierced through the fog. Because the truth is, I had been waiting to feel close to God before I pursued Him again. But James reminded me: the pursuit comes first. The feeling might follow—or it might not right away—but God promises to draw near.

Have you ever found yourself waiting to feel something before going back to God?
Do you believe He’ll still meet you—even if all you have to bring is your tired, lukewarm heart?

Another verse I clung to during that season was this:

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” —Psalm 145:18

That word truth stood out to me. It reminded me I didn’t need to pretend with God. I didn’t need to fake joy or passion or perfect faith. I could simply tell Him, “God, I feel dry. I feel far. But I still want You.”

And maybe that’s where you are today too. Maybe your prayers feel empty, or your Bible feels like just another book on the shelf. Maybe you’re serving and smiling and showing up—but inside, your soul feels tired.

Can I encourage you with something I learned the hard way?
Spiritual dryness isn’t a sign that God has left you. It’s often an invitation to lean in—one quiet, faithful step at a time.

Jesus said in John 15:4,
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”

Abiding doesn’t always look exciting. It often looks like showing up when you don’t feel anything. Opening your Bible even when the words blur together. Whispering a prayer even when your heart feels cold. That’s what I started doing—not perfectly, but faithfully.

Some days, the only prayer I could muster was, “God, I miss feeling close to You. Help me not give up.”

How might you “remain” with God this week—even if your heart feels dry?

Is there a small, simple way you can draw near to Him without waiting for the perfect feelings or circumstances?

I remember journaling one morning during that dry season, and the only thing I could write was, “God, I want to want You again.” It felt small. But it was honest. And in that moment, I thought of Jeremiah 29:13:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

That verse isn’t a formula—it’s a promise. A promise that our seeking isn’t wasted. Even if your heart feels scattered, if your motives feel mixed, if your effort feels weak—God honors the heart that turns toward Him.

What does seeking God look like for you right now?
Not in your ideal life. Not in your “put-together” moments. But here—in the middle of your mess, questions, or numbness?

I found that in the seeking, even when I didn’t feel spiritual, something started to shift. Not overnight. But slowly. Quietly. And it was the Word of God that helped me start to feel alive again.

Because while my feelings were unpredictable, God’s Word was not.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” —Isaiah 40:8

That verse reminded me that His truth didn’t depend on my mood. His presence wasn’t tied to my emotions. Even if I felt dry, His Word was still living and active (Hebrews 4:12). And it had the power to work in me—even when I couldn’t see it.

Are you letting the Word speak louder than your feelings?
Could spending just five minutes a day in Scripture be your first small step back?

One passage that truly reshaped my thinking was from John 15, where Jesus says:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5

That truth humbled me. I realized I had been trying to “fix” my spiritual dryness on my own—through willpower, guilt, or trying harder. But Jesus doesn’t say, “Bear fruit, then come to Me.” He says, “Remain in Me.” Stay connected. That’s the starting point. Fruit comes later.

Where have you been trying to force fruit instead of focusing on faithfulness?

And when it felt like I was too far gone, like I’d messed up my momentum, I held onto this:

“I the Lord do not change.” —Malachi 3:6
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8

God hadn’t moved. He hadn’t changed. And He wasn’t waiting for me to clean myself up—He was inviting me to come back. Just as I was.

Listen to the UnPerfected Life Podcast Now

A Prayer for the Spiritually Dry

Father,
You see every part of me—every doubt, every numb feeling, every place where I’ve grown tired or weary. Thank You that You don’t shame me for feeling dry. You invite me closer. Thank You that You never change, even when my faith wavers.
Today, I’m not coming to You with polished words or perfect prayers. I’m just coming. I’m showing up. I want to want You again. Stir my heart, Lord. Revive what has felt asleep. Help me remain in You, even when I don’t feel it. I trust that You are working in ways I can’t yet see. I believe that Your Word is alive, and that You are near.
Meet me here, Jesus.
Amen.

Worship Prompt:

This week, take one moment each day—just five minutes—to do one of the following:

Read a short Psalm out loud (start with Psalm 63, Psalm 42, or Psalm 145).
Listen to a worship song that reminds you of who God is. (Try “Same God” by Elevation Worship or “Great Are You Lord” by All Sons & Daughters.)
Write a one-sentence prayer in your journal or phone notes each day, starting with: “God, I trust You even when…”

Let this be less about doing something perfectly and more about showing up—even imperfectly—with your heart.

You’re not alone in this season. And it won’t last forever. Dry ground still holds the roots of something growing.

Want to Go Deeper with Your Family?

If you’re walking through a spiritually dry season—or someone in your home is—you’re not alone. Sometimes the best way to find our way back to God is together.

That’s why I created a free downloadable family devotional to go along with this post. It’s short, simple, and made for busy families. Whether you go through it around the dinner table, in the car, or at bedtime, this devotional will help your family: