When the Bible Feels Dry: Why It Happens & How to Fight Through

Have you ever opened your Bible and felt nothing?

No excitement, no deep revelation, just words on a page. You want to connect with God, but instead, it feels like He’s distant, silent, or maybe even absent. You sit there, staring at the pages, whispering, “Lord, where are You?”

If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. In fact, spiritual dryness is something even the greatest heroes of faith experienced. But here’s the truth you need to know:

Spiritual dryness is normal, but it’s also a battle.

And how you respond in these dry seasons matters.

Why Does Spiritual Dryness Happen?

It’s easy to think that if we’re spiritually dry, something must be wrong with us. But in reality, dry seasons often follow a pattern, and they show up even after the biggest spiritual victories.

1. After a Spiritual High

Ever noticed how, right after a powerful moment with God, discouragement can hit hard?

• Elijah called down fire from heaven, then hid in a cave, depressed. (1 Kings 18-19)

• Moses led Israel through the Red Sea, then they immediately questioned God. (Exodus 14-17)

• David was anointed king, then spent years hiding in caves. (1 Samuel 16-31)

Why does this happen? Because the enemy knows we’re vulnerable after a big victory. He wants to drain our passion, weaken our faith, and make us question what we just experienced.

Maybe you’ve been there. You had an incredible moment in worship, but the next morning, your prayers felt flat. You saw God move powerfully in your life, and the next week, doubt crept in.

It’s not a coincidence. Spiritual highs are often followed by a season of testing.

2. Before a Spiritual Breakthrough

Sometimes, dry seasons aren’t a setback, they’re a setup.

• Before Jesus began His ministry, He spent 40 days in the wilderness. (Luke 4)

• Moses spent 40 years in Midian before leading Israel.

• Joshua wandered the wilderness for decades before stepping into the Promised Land.

God often prepares us in the wilderness before calling us into something greater. It’s in these seasons that He strengthens our faith, deepens our roots, and teaches us to trust Him beyond our feelings.

Maybe your dry season isn’t a punishment. Maybe it’s preparation.

How to Get Through Spiritual Dryness

If you’re in a dry place, the enemy will try to convince you that it’s pointless to keep going. He wants you to stop reading, stop praying, stop showing up.

But now is not the time to shrink back. Now is the time to fight back.

It feels amazing to punch Satan in the face with obedience.

That’s exactly how you push through spiritual dryness, by choosing obedience even when you feel nothing.

Here are five powerful ways to keep going in the wilderness:

1. Keep showing up. Faithfulness in the dry season leads to fruitfulness later.

2. Rely on truth, not feelings. Just because God feels distant doesn’t mean He is.

3. Mix it up. Try listening to an audio Bible, reading a different translation, or journaling your prayers.

4. Pray honest prayers. God isn’t afraid of your questions or struggles.

5. Surround yourself with encouragement. Worship music, a solid community, and biblical truth will help anchor your heart.

The key to spiritual dryness? Don’t stop. Keep pressing in, because this season won’t last forever.

Want the Full Lesson?

Spiritual dryness is not just a phase; it’s a battle. And in our latest podcast episode, we dive deep into why it happens, how the enemy uses it against you, and practical ways to fight back.

Listen now: www.voiceforthevulnerable.org/podcast

If you’re in a dry season, don’t give up. God is still with you, even when you don’t feel Him. Keep going, because on the other side of this wilderness, obedience is always worth it.