A Prayer When You Feel Spiritually Dry - Your Daily Prayer - April 28

A Prayer When You Feel Spiritually Dry
By Rachel Wojo

Bible Reading:
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63:1

Read or Listen Below:

Last January, I hit a wall spiritually. It wasn't sudden; it crept up on me. Something had to give between my daughter's volleyball tournaments, a work deadline that had me up late working three nights in a row, and other family circumstances. And sadly, for a few weeks, it was my time with God. Some mornings, I'd catch myself "finishing" my devotional time without remembering what I'd just read. My prayer journal entries shrank from paragraphs to bullet points to nothing. The warmth I usually felt during worship didn't feel very warm.

What made it worse was the guilt. As someone who teaches and encourages others in their faith journey, I felt like a fraud. How could I guide others when my spiritual well had run dry? But God, in His gentle way, reminded me that spiritual dryness isn't a sign of failure—it's a normal part of our journey with Him.

If you've ever struggled in a wilderness season of life that turned into a spiritual desert, you can take comfort in the fact that you aren't alone and certainly aren't the first to experience this issue.

In Psalm 63, David writes from the wilderness of Judah, likely while fleeing from his enemies. Despite being in a literal desert, he expresses this beautiful, honest longing for God: "My soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." David acknowledges his spiritual thirst while simultaneously expressing his determination to seek God.

David didn't deny the dryness. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking, "Oh, I'm not spiritually dry." But David used this season as a time to refresh. He remembered times when he experienced God's presence in the sanctuary, and that memory fueled his desire to experience God afresh.

When we feel spiritually dry, we can follow David's example. We can acknowledge our thirst while turning toward God rather than away from Him. We can remember those sweet moments of connection we've had in the past and trust that they'll come again. Sometimes, simply showing up—opening His Word even when we don't feel like it, praying even when the words don't come quickly—is an act of faith that God honors.

I hope this reminds you—and honestly, I'm reminding myself too as I write this—that spiritual dryness happens to all of us. One of my dear friends told me, "Rachel, your frustration is proof of your faithfulness." Isn't that something? The fact that you even notice the dryness shows that you know what the rain feels like. That matters to God. Will you pray with me?

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, I'm coming to You today feeling... well, not feeling much at all, and that's the problem. Like David wandering in that wilderness, my soul is thirsty for You in this weary, parched land of endless to-do lists and responsibilities. I miss You. I miss the closeness and the joy that bubbles up when I sense Your presence. Lord, I'm not trying to hide this spiritual emptiness or dress it up with churchy words. You already see it all, anyway.

Father, I'm choosing to seek You even in this desert—especially in this desert. When my prayers feel like I'm just forging through a script, help me to lean in instead of leaning away. When I fail to focus or worship, songs don't move me like they used to; strengthen me with Your Spirit. Would You breathe life back into my spiritual lungs? Please, Lord, restore my childlike faith about spending time with You. Thank You for Your longing to know me, which does not lessen during these seasons. Your love doesn't depend on my emotional state or spiritual performance. You are faithful even when my faith feels weak. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Photo Credit: ©Patrick Schneider/Unsplash

Rachel Wojo is an author, public speaker, and podcaster who hosts Bible reading challenges on her popular blog, rachelwojo.com. Her biblical approach and life circumstances influence women to find strength and hope in everyday situations.  The ideal desperate pray-er to shed light on asking God questions, Rachel’s journey includes losing her mother to leukemia, her adult special needs daughter to a rare neurologically degenerative disease, and her father to illness. She is the author of Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest Moments. Mostly, Rachel is crazy in love with Matt, mom to six on earth and two in heaven.

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