Have you ever gone through a “dry season” and wanted to know how to get out of it? For those unfamiliar with this term, a dry season is another way of saying “I don’t feel close to God and joy is lacking in my life.” I think we’ve all been there. It feels like we’re in a long distance relationship with God and we are the most unspiritual person on the planet. During these times should we just wait for the rain or can we do something to get out of this funk?
But I don’t feel like it
The hardest thing about being in a “dry season” is the fact that you don’t feel like doing anything else except possibly sulking and complaining. Emotions are real and have a tendency to override reason. Reason may tell you to call your friend and let him know that you’re having a hard time. But if you’re depressed a phone suddenly feels like it weighs 500lbs and just the thought of calling your friend can be overwhelming.
So a key here is training yourself to do the things you know you should do even when don’t feel like it. The other night I was in one of these funks and all I felt like doing was sleeping, sulking and complaining. But my wife wouldn’t let me do that. She made me play racquetball. And then asked me what was wrong and what I planned to do about it. When she asked me that I realized that I wasn’t planning to do anything about it – except continue to be miserable. I could sense that my pity party was coming to an end.
What Are you going to do?
It’s amazing how when we are depressed we feel like we are powerless to do anything. It feels like life sucks and there’s nothing we can do about it. And then we are asked “what are you going to do?” Hmm…well, I never thought about that.
The truth of the matter is that we always have choices. It’s just that depression brings a cloud over the soul so it can be difficult to see those choices. I’m happy to tell you that my wife officially put the kibosh on my pity party by asking me what I was going to do. I could either continue to sulk or I could do something else. I decided I had sulked enough.
So what has helped you overcome depression, dry seasons, or just being in a bad mood? Do you agree that we always have a choice? Why or why not?
About Josh Monen
Josh is a Christian entrepreneur who lives in Central Texas with his wife and 4 kids.
Hey Josh, I think you’re right that doing the things we know we should do even when we don’t feel like it is probably one of the most important things in battling through spiritually dry times or depression. Maybe that’s why some people call some of these things like prayer and Bible study “spiritual disciplines.” They are disciplines because they require us to be disciplined and continue on in these things even during the times we don’t feel like it. Unfortunately I’ve often been unsuccessful at this. When I have a “dry time” I’ll continue to pray and read the Bible but it often ends up just “going through the motions.”
When it comes to depression I think that can be a much more overwhelming thing than a spiritually dry time. In my experience, the most important thing during depression was having Christian brothers who I could be honest with about my state of mind and who would pray for me. I also think it’s very important never to stop praying daily, even if you’re doubting that God hears you or even if you fail to see any reason to pray. If that’s how you’re feeling then tell God about it, ask Him why, and ask for deliverance from whatever you’re going through and the strength to get through it. Even though it’s often lasted longer than I wanted and been very painful, God has always been faithful even with the hardest struggles in my life.
Hey Matt, thank you for your insight here I appreciate it. I like what you said about praying daily even if we doubt God is listening or fail to see a reason why. Looking back I can see why that is such good advice. I remember times when praying was the last thing I felt like doing but when I did, God answered and intervened. It’s happened many times but I forget way to easy!
I also agree that having brothers around who can pray with and encourage us during hard times is so important. Thanks bro!