Out of the Dry Season

I am an out-of-sight, out-of-mind type of person. While this may aid me in letting go of trials, or in staying focused on the here and now, it does not always serve me well in relationships. I struggle to keep in touch with friends and family I do not see regularly. I cherish the friends who can pick up right where we left off after a long stint away from one another. Yet, my lack of continual communication does not equate to a lack of love and fondness for others. I cherish all the people in my life, and if I am in your neck of the woods, I will probably look you up and book a coffee or lunch date.

The out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality also gets me into dry seasons with the Lord, where I am busy helping my family, serving the church, or going full steam ahead on a work project. I can get so tunnel-visioned on doing "good" work that I forget about the One the work is for. And worse, I forget to spend time with the Lord. Perhaps you can relate.

I have noticed some common tell-tale signs that I am missing out on communing with the Lord. 

I start to get a bit snippy. I might become resentful of the work I am doing. I do not have peace about my daily business. Minor challenges seem like major obstacles. I start to check out by watching too much TV. A blaring red flag is when I go to pray about an upcoming event or project and realize I have more to talk about with the Lord than just my requests. The worst sign is when I convince myself that the "work" I am doing is with the Lord, yet I don't engage him while working. My soul is unsettled, and it is time to schedule more than a few coffee dates with the Lord.

When we get into these dry seasons of not engaging the Lord, it can be easy to fall into a cycle of guilt and shame. It becomes easy for the enemy to place thoughts in our heads that the Lord is disappointed, will punish us, or will withhold his goodness from us. But we must remember that, while our sin is great, the Lord is greater.

The truth, my brothers and sisters, is that the Lord is for us and longs to be in a relationship with us.

While dry seasons require repentance, I assert that coming out of them brings Christ's loving grace and mercy. The Lord is like that friend you have not seen in ages and can pick up where you left off because, in all reality, he's never been gone; you just forgot to look for him.

If we can all agree that dry seasons with the Lord are a part of the human experience, what practical steps can we take to get out of them? While this list is far from comprehensive, it can be a starting place.

Begin with repentance. For the most part, we know what we have been doing. Just tell the Lord; he knows, too. And if you are struggling to understand why, or maybe you cannot clearly see that you have been distant, ask him what you need to repent of, and he will tell you.

Get rid of shame. Godly guilt, knowing that you have done wrong, is good. But shame will tell you all kinds of lies and try to keep you there. There is no shame in the kingdom of God; Christ took that on for you. If your dry season has you trapped in negativity, know that it is not from God. He is kind in his reprimands, even when he has to show some tough love, because God is for you. Shed the shame and welcome his tender mercy and grace.

Start with small moments with God. When you have been in seasons of dryness, it can be a challenge to get back to long devotionals or soaking prayers. Start where you are; it is okay. Two minutes of sitting in God’s presence can do wonders, and eventually, you will build up to more. Sitting in nature and taking in the Lord can calm an unsettled soul. Breath prayers with simple words like [breathe in] "Lord, come near," [breathe out] "rid me of myself" can do wonders for centering on the Lord. Pick a book from the Scriptures and read… but maybe avoid books like Leviticus, as something uplifting might be what your soul needs during this season.

Ask God to do it. By this point you know that, left to your own devices, you will choose self over God; it is just part of our sinful nature. But God is so glorious, and he loves to do what we cannot. He will equip you and show you. He wants to be with you, and he will help you be with him. In Ezekiel 37, the Lord raises dry bones and breathes life into them to illustrate how he will do the same with his people who have strayed from him. The Lord says, "I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD" (Ezek 37:14). He is a God who breathes new life into us and draws us back to him because of his great love for us.

While dry seasons are no fun, they help us move into seasons of flourishing with the Lord. And remember, you don't have to be in the Lord's neck of the woods to schedule a date. He is always there, ready to welcome you with open arms.