By Steve Favor

Overcoming Spiritual Dryness

Have you ever found yourself in a place where your soul feels barren—your prayers feel hollow, the Bible feels distant, and worship seems like routine rather than revelation? This condition is not foreign to the Christian life. It’s called spiritual dryness, and it is more common—and more purposeful—than we often realize.

The Cockroach Farm: A Story About Choices and Wisdom

Three hungry cockroaches once came upon a generous farmer and pleaded for food.

The farmer laid out four job options:

  1. Informing the chickens when food is ready – $3,000/month

  2. Peeling and slicing garlic – $5,000/month

  3. Chasing lizards out of the farm – $4,000/month

  4. Singing and dancing to entertain the goats – $250/month

Without hesitation, the first cockroach said,

“I’ll take the garlic job! $5,000 sounds amazing!”

The second cockroach added,

“I’ll chase out those lizards for $4,000!”

But the third cockroach paused. After a long moment, she said,

“I’ll take the $250 job – singing and dancing for the goats.”

The other two stared at her in disbelief.

“Are you out of your mind? That’s the worst-paying job!”

But the farmer was curious too.

“Why choose the lowest-paying job?” he asked.

The third cockroach replied:

“Chickens love to eat cockroaches. Why would I risk my life to feed them?
Garlic’s strong smell is fatal to us. Why would I go near it?
Lizards prey on us. Why would I chase them?
But goats? Goats don’t eat us. They might enjoy my singing and dancing.
I may earn less money, but I will live. I choose peace and safety over a paycheck.”

Key Lesson:

In seasons of spiritual dryness, don’t chase what seems impressive. Choose what sustains your spirit, even if it seems small. Peace with God is better than profit without Him.

What is Spiritual Dryness?

Spiritual dryness is a season where our hearts feel disconnected from the presence of God. It is a time marked by prayerlessness, a weakened devotional life, increased struggle with sin, and emotional or spiritual fatigue. The psalmist captures this feeling in Psalm 42:1–2:

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

This dryness does not always stem from sin. It can be triggered by prolonged hardship, unbalanced focus on ministry, or even over-dependence on human strength (Zechariah 4:6). Like Elijah fleeing Jezebel, David hiding in caves, or even Jesus in the wilderness, we all face seasons when heaven seems silent.

Why Does God Allow Spiritual Dryness?

Though painful, spiritual dryness can be a divine tool. As shared in the GMN call, these seasons often lead us into deeper intimacy with God. They challenge us to seek the Giver rather than just His gifts, to build a faith that isn’t rooted in emotion but anchored in relationship.

Gordon MacDonald, in Ordering Your Private World, reminds us of the contrast between the outer life (our visible, public roles) and the inner life (the unseen roots of our spiritual being). When the inner life is neglected, our souls become like sinkholes—collapsing under the weight of performance, obligation, and exhaustion.

Wayne Muller adds,

“The busier we are, the more important we seem… To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for the sunset… this has become the model of a successful life.”
But that’s not God’s model.

Recognizing the Signs

You may be in a season of dryness if:

  • Prayer and Bible reading feel forced or empty (Luke 18:1).

  • You’ve lost joy and spiritual hunger (Psalm 51:12).

  • Sin feels harder to resist, and temptation feels stronger (Gal. 5:16).

  • You feel emotionally or spiritually disconnected from other believers (Heb. 10:25).

Even David—“a man after God’s own heart”—cried out in Psalm 13:

“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?”
But by the end of that same psalm, he says,
“But I trust in your unfailing love…”
That shift in perspective is the beginning of healing.

How Do We Overcome Spiritual Dryness?

1. Return to Your First Love – Revelation 2:4-5

Like the church in Ephesus, we may be busy doing good but far from God’s heart. Jesus calls us to “remember the height from which we have fallen, repent, and do the things you did at first.” Go back to the passion and simplicity of your early walk with Him.

2. Take a Time Out

Rest is not optional—it’s spiritual. God Himself rested. Make time for solitude, retreats, quiet days, and sabbath rhythms. The soul finds life not just in doing for God but in being with Him.

3. Rediscover Abiding – John 15:4

True fruitfulness comes from remaining connected to the Vine. Create intentional spiritual rhythms that involve prayer, reflection, silence, fasting, and Scripture meditation. These are not legalistic tasks, but life-giving streams in dry seasons.

4. Build a Personal Rule of Life

This is a structured rhythm of spiritual disciplines designed to support your relationship with Christ—just like a trellis supports a vine. It includes:

  • Daily time with Jesus

  • Mental and emotional discipline (Romans 12:2)

  • Physical health and rest

  • Relational accountability

  • Stewardship of work and finances

  • Intentional sabbath and spiritual retreats

A well-tended soul leads to a well-lived life.

5. Don’t Let Busyness Replace Devotion

Your worth is not in your works. Competence must never substitute for intimacy. Be like Mary at Jesus’ feet, not Martha lost in ministry (Luke 10:38-42).

Final Encouragement

Jesus sees you. As He said to the Ephesian church, “I know your deeds.” He is not blind to your efforts or your exhaustion. But more than anything, He wants you—not your performance.

Spiritual dryness is not the end of the road—it’s an invitation to slow down, reflect, and reconnect.