1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 2: Have you ever sat down to pray and felt like 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 2: your words just hit the ceiling, opened your Bible and 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 2: felt nothing stir in your heart, or gone through your 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: day knowing all the right spiritual things to do, yet 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: feeling strangely distant from God. If so, let me say 7 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: this clearly right from the start, you are not alone 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: and you are not feeling God. Spiritual dryness is far 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 2: more common than we talk about, especially among believers who 10 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 2: genuinely love the Lord and want to walk closely with him. 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 2: And yet when it happens, many of us quietly wonder, 12 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 2: what's wrong with me? Why do I feel so disconnected? 13 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: Where is God? Today? On your hope field perspective, We're 14 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,919 Speaker 2: having an honest, hope field conversation about what to do 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: when you feel spiritually dry or distant from God, and 16 00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: how to walk through those seasons without shame, panic, or 17 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 2: self condemnation. Welcome to your hope filled perspective, where it's 18 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: always our goal to restore hope, renew minds, and empower 19 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 2: listeners to live in your God given identity. I'm your host, 20 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 2: doctor Michelle bankson Board, certified clinical neuropsychologists, author, speaker, and 21 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: companion in your journey to mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. 22 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: I'm delighted you've chosen to spend a few minutes of 23 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: your week with us. Today we're going to be talking 24 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: about what to do when you feel spiritually dry or 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 2: disconnected from God. We'll dive in right after this brief 26 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: word from our sponsor. Psalm forty two begins with these words, 27 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: as the dear pants for streams of water, So my 28 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: soul pants for you, my God. But what happens when 29 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: your soul doesn't feel like it's panting? What happens when 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: the longing feels dull, and prayer feels empty, worship feels mechanical, 31 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: and God feels far away. Any believers, spiritual dryness is 32 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: deeply unsettling. We love God, we trust Him, and yet 33 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: our hearts feel strangely disconnected, and often, instead of talking 34 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: about it, we hide it. Today, on your hope field perspective, 35 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 2: we're pulling this struggle into the light. We're talking about 36 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,519 Speaker 2: why spiritual dryness happens, what it does not mean about 37 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: your faith, and how God often meets us in those quiet, 38 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 2: uncomfortable seasons in ways we don't expect. Today we're going 39 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: to be talking about what to do when you feel 40 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: spiritually dry or disconnected from God and joining me for 41 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 2: today's conversation. He is my co host, Jessica Nrukl. Welcome back, Jessica, 42 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: Thank you. 43 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 3: I am so glad to be here, but I'm also 44 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 3: so glad that we're talking about this topic as a 45 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: worship pastor. There are days that I take the stage 46 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 3: on a Sunday morning and I feel like a fraud 47 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 3: because my spiritual dry season has lingered longer than a day, 48 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 3: maybe it's into days, weeks, and months. 49 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: And the thing that I've learned about. 50 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 3: This is that it's extremely common and it's not something 51 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 3: that we should rationalize or spiritualize either. It's part and 52 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 3: parcel of growing in our faith. So let's begin by 53 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 3: naming something that often goes unspoken. Spiritual dryness does not 54 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 3: mean spiritual failure in season. Yes, amen, it does not 55 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 3: mean spiritual failure. And that's why I said it's part 56 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 3: and parcel of our growing in our faith. There are 57 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: seasons when people don't feel far from God because they've 58 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 3: stopped believing. They feel far from God because belief has 59 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: stopped feeling like anything. Prayer still happens but it feels thin. 60 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 3: Scripture is still read, but it doesn't land. Worship is present, 61 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 3: but connection feels muted. And what makes this especially disorienting 62 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: is that nothing thing obvious is wrong. Life might even 63 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 3: look really stable from the outside, yet internally something feels 64 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 3: quiet in a way that's unsettling. 65 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: Today we're talking about spiritual dryness, not as you mentioned. 66 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: It's not spiritual failure, it's not a crisis of faith, 67 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: and it's really not something to panic over. But we're 68 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 2: going to be talking about it as a developmental moment 69 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: in the life of a believer, which already encourages my 70 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: heart because I have been there and in those times, 71 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: I think it's so human to ask what did I 72 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 2: do wrong? Or to think God must be punishing me 73 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: for something, And once I figure it out, then God 74 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: will feel close again. So, friends, this episode isn't about 75 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: quick fixes. It's really about understanding what's actually happening from 76 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 2: both a spiritual and uneurological perspective when God feels distant 77 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: and we want to talk about how to respond without 78 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: either trying to force emotion or withdrawing in silence. And 79 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 2: I've done both as a Christian. Clinical neuropsychologist. I've worked 80 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: with thousands literally of believers who they love God deeply, 81 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: yet they go through seasons when they feel spiritually numb 82 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,679 Speaker 2: or disconnected at times. You mentioned yourself as a worship pastor, 83 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: and I'm walked alongside pastors and ministry leaders, prayer warriors, 84 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: longtime believers, and the thing that I'm coming to understand 85 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: is that not one of us really is exempt. 86 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:44,239 Speaker 3: Which is so important to realize because many people assume 87 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 3: that if they're feeling distant from God, it must mean 88 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 3: they're doing something wrong. But the scriptures tell us a 89 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 3: very different story. We see spiritual dryness throughout the Bible. 90 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 3: David cried out, why my soul are you downcast? Elijah 91 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 3: collapsed under despair, and even Joe, righteous and faithful, felt abandoned. 92 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 3: Spiritual dryness is often a season, not a verdict. 93 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 2: Ooh, I like that. Spiritual dryness is often a season, yes, 94 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 2: not a verdict. And I'm so glad that you mentioned 95 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 2: the examples from scripture because i don't know about you, 96 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 2: but when I've gone through those spiritually dry seasons or 97 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 2: when I've felt disconnected from God, there can be a 98 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: temptation then to pull away to not read the word 99 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 2: as much because I don't feel like I'm don't feel 100 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: like I'm getting anything out of it. And yet there 101 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: is comfort in reading about the testimonies of some of 102 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: the biblical greats who went through exactly what we're talking about. 103 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 2: And here's something critical to understand. Feelings are not the 104 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 2: same as faith. Yes, God's presence does not fluctuate based 105 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: on our emotional experience. So why does spiritual dryness feel 106 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: so threatening? And I thought about that in preparation for 107 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: this episode, and I think spiritual dryness feels threatening because 108 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: many Christians have learned, often unintentionally, to measure spiritual health 109 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: by felt closeness. When closeness fades, though, fear steps in. 110 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 3: And then it's almost like if I don't feel it, 111 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 3: something must be wrong exactly, And that's how I felt felt. 112 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: You know, we keep saying that word felt, but that 113 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 2: is crucial for really unpacking what it is, where it 114 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: comes from, and really how do we get through it. 115 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 2: That fear doesn't come from theology. It comes from wiring. 116 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 2: And what I mean by that is that the human 117 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: brain is designed to associate meaning with emotional feedback. So 118 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: when something that once produced warmth, peace, or reassurance, and 119 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: it's suddenly doesn't. The brain interprets that is loss, even 120 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 2: if nothing has really been taken away. And that's why 121 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: spiritual dryness doesn't just feel neutral, it feels alarming. But 122 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: here's an important distinction. Absence of emotional response is not 123 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: absence of relationship. 124 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: Okay, so can you say that again. That's really powerful 125 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: right there. 126 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: Absence of emotional response is not the absence of relationship. 127 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: So just because we don't feel close to God doesn't 128 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 2: mean that we don't still have relationship with him. 129 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: Yes. 130 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: In fact, if we're being honest, every mature relationship eventually 131 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 3: moves beyond constant emotional reinforcement. So before we talk about 132 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 3: what to do when you feel spiritually dry or disconnected 133 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 3: from God, let's talk about common causes of spiritual dryness. 134 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 3: Why does spiritual dryness happen? 135 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's important to underscore that often it's 136 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 2: not just one reason. It can be a culmination of 137 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 2: multiple reasons. But when I was thinking about this, and 138 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: I was thinking about how I've seen it present in 139 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 2: patients and in myself, frequently a cause of spiritual dryness 140 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 2: is emotional or physical exhaustion. And you and I have 141 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 2: done multiple podcast episodes now about emotional exhaustion, burnout, and 142 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 2: what happens is when we are depleted mentally, emotionally or physically, 143 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: our spiritual sensitivity often follows. I think about Elijah. His 144 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 2: breakthrough didn't come through a sermon, It came through sleep 145 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 2: and food. So sometimes the most spiritual thing you can 146 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 2: do is rest and then coming at it from a 147 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: clinical standpoint. Another cause of spiritual dryness or disconnected from 148 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: God is either chronic stress or trauma. And again we've 149 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 2: had other podcast episodes focusing on chronic stress, and we've 150 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 2: had episodes focusing on trauma. But the thing about that 151 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 2: is that ongoing stress keeps our brain in survival mode. 152 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 2: So when your nervous system is overloaded, stillness with God 153 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 2: can feel inaccessible. And really, so often when we are still, 154 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 2: we're still looking for comfort. 155 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 3: Right, You're so true, And I think of that verse 156 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 3: be still in know that I am God. It doesn't 157 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: say be still in a feel that I am God. 158 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: It doesn't say be still and have warm, fuzzy feelings. 159 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 3: It doesn't say be still and I feel like you're 160 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 3: in a sitting on a beach. It says to be 161 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 3: still and know that I am God. 162 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 2: It comes back to truth. 163 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 3: It comes back to truth. And so another a third 164 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 3: reason why spiritual dryness can happen is through grief and loss. 165 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 3: Grief often numbs our emotions, including spiritual emotions. That numbness 166 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 3: is protective, not sinful. But the good thing is that 167 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 3: Scripture reminds us that Jesus is acquainted with our grief. 168 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 3: So even in grief and loss, we aren't alone, even 169 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 3: when we feel disconnected. 170 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 2: But I think that's one of those times when maybe 171 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 2: we're even more susceptible to feeling spiritually dry or disconnected, 172 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 2: because when we're grieving or when we've experienced a loss, 173 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 2: we're looking for something else to fill that void, and 174 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 2: we want more than anything to feel God's comfort. And 175 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: it's during those times that we have to know his 176 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 2: presence is still constant even when our feelings don't match. 177 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 3: Right, And this leads us into a fourth reason, and 178 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 3: that's unprocessed disappointment with God. Oh yeah, I've been disappointed, 179 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 3: not with who he is, but maybe how he answered 180 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: a prayer, whether he said no or not. Yet, sometimes 181 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 3: we don't really feel distant from God, we feel hurt. 182 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: We don't know how to. 183 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 3: Say that out loud, But this is what I want 184 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 3: every listener to know. God can handle your honesty. And 185 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 3: the psalms are full of raw, unfiltered prayers. If you're 186 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 3: struggling to express your hurt and disappointment, read a psalm. 187 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 3: It has taught me how to process emotions, and so 188 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: turn to the psalms. 189 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: All right. 190 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 3: So the fifth reason why we turn, why we experience 191 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 3: these spiritually dry seasons is performance based faith. 192 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: If our relationship with. 193 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 3: God drifts from connection to checklists, intimacy often fades. But 194 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 3: let's also talk about what's happening beneath the surface, like 195 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 3: what's happening in our brains during those times we feel 196 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 3: disconnected from God. 197 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 2: Oh, I thought you'd never ask. When people are under 198 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 2: prolonged stress, grief, caregiving, strained decision, fatigue, or emotional overload. 199 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: Now so many of the topics that we've talked about 200 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: recently in podcast episodes. The brain prioritizes function over feeling. 201 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 2: And this isn't pathology, it's protection. Our higher order emotional 202 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 2: integration becomes quieter. It's not gone, it's just quieter. So 203 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 2: in essence, spiritual practices that once felt rich may now 204 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 2: feel effortful, not because they're ineffective, but because the brain 205 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: is conserving resources. 206 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 3: So what you're saying is that the dryness isn't necessarily 207 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 3: a spiritual message. It's a nervous system signal. 208 00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 2: Yes, oftentimes it is, and when we misinterpret that signal spiritually, 209 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 2: well then we add shame to exhaustion. And this is 210 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 2: where people start striving more prayer, more discipline, more intensity, 211 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,839 Speaker 2: which ironically can deepen the sense of distance because really 212 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: just forced intimacy rarely restores connection. 213 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: Ooh so true. 214 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 3: So we are going to turn to answering the question 215 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 3: what spiritual dryness. 216 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: Does not mean. 217 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 3: So we want to be very very clear that spiritual 218 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 3: dryness does not mean that God has left you. It 219 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 3: does not mean your faith is weak, it does not 220 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 3: mean you're being punished, it does not mean you are disqualified, 221 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 3: and it does not mean you've lost your salvation. 222 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: And that's such a relief for people to hear. I'm 223 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 2: reminded of the promise in Hebrews thirteen to five, I 224 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 2: will never leave you, nor forsake you, and never doesn't 225 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: come with exceptions for emotional numbness. 226 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: I'm so glad, I'm so relieved. I like the word never. 227 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 3: It's a great word, especially when we feel numb, especially 228 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 3: when we feel dry, because sometimes God feels silent, not 229 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 3: because he's absent, but because he's inviting us into a deeper, 230 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 3: quieter trust and sow. 231 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: Often that feels uncomfortable, but the end result is so 232 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 2: worth it. The problem is we are so pain averse. 233 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 2: We don't want to have to walk through the uncomfortableness 234 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: to get to the point where we see the good 235 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 2: that comes from it. But I think it's important that 236 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: we talk about an uncomfortable truth that most believers aren't taught, 237 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 2: and that is that God does not sustain our faith 238 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: by keeping us emotionally rewarded. There comes a point when 239 00:15:55,640 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 2: faith matures beyond sensation. This doesn't mean that feelings are bad. 240 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 2: It just means that feelings are no longer the foundation 241 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 2: of our relationship. You know, I liken it too, when 242 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 2: we're dating and we have all the warm, fuzzy feelings 243 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 2: and they feel wonderful and we can't wait to be 244 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 2: with that person again and we don't want to say goodbye. 245 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 2: And then you get married and you still have the 246 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: warm fuzzies. But maybe you've been married a couple of 247 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 2: years or five years, you have the children in real 248 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 2: life interfears, and sometimes you just have to continue on 249 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: the foundation of the relationship and not rely on the 250 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 2: warm fuzzy feelings in the relationship. 251 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 3: Yes, and actually Scripture prepares us for this, though we 252 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 3: often skim right past it, and it says, blessed are 253 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 3: those who have not seen and yet have believed. This 254 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 3: verse isn't about doubt, It's about trust without reinforcement. Spiritual 255 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 3: dryness often exposes where faith has quietly become dependent on experience, 256 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 3: and that exposure is not condemnation, it's invitation because we 257 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 3: mature spiritually over time like babies. We start with milk 258 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 3: and slowly move on to solid food. 259 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: But sometimes we. 260 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 3: Want that warm milk and to be all tucked in 261 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 3: cozy instead of this very diet that we grow up into. 262 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 3: And you see, trust without reinforcement means we take God 263 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 3: at his word. We believe even though we may not see. 264 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 3: We listen for his heart even when we can't hear 265 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 3: his voice. We rest in him rather than in this 266 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 3: frantic search for someone who hasn't left. We've both gone 267 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 3: through dry seasons, and we've learned a few things along 268 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 3: the way. Before we talk about helpful things we've learned 269 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 3: to do when we feel spiritually dry, let's talk about 270 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 3: what not to do. Right after this short break for 271 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 3: a brief word from our. 272 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 2: Sponsor, welcome back to your hope filled perspective, where today 273 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 2: we're talking about what to do when you feel spiritually 274 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 2: dry or disconnected from God. Before the break, we talked 275 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 2: about what is spiritual dryness, where does it come from, 276 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 2: what does it not mean? But let's talk about first 277 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: what not to do in dry seasons. We have all 278 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 2: gone through dry seasons, and usually we want those spells 279 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 2: to end as fast as possible. Yes, but I've learned 280 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 2: that there are at least three common responses that actually 281 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 2: prolong those seasons of spiritual dryness. The first that I 282 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 2: can think of is trying to force emotion. Trying to 283 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 2: get back to a feeling usually keeps us focused on 284 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 2: ourselves rather than God. And if we think about the 285 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 2: fact that God wants relationship but he doesn't want hype, 286 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 2: sometimes we will experience that strong, comforting sensation. But God 287 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 2: wants to know or are we going to pursue him 288 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 2: even when that feeling is not there. So let's not 289 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 2: force emotion. 290 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 3: Right And I just wanted to just chime in here 291 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 3: that it's remembering those past emotional experiences are good, but 292 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 3: it's like a once in a lifetime vacation. We can't 293 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 3: expect our present experiences to live up to the embellished 294 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 3: memory of the past. We carry the memories and then 295 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 3: we give room for God to work something new in 296 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 3: our right now. 297 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 2: And I think we need to keep in mind that 298 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:40,360 Speaker 2: a lot of our experiences, whether it be church worship 299 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 2: services or going on and retreat, those can build emotion 300 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 2: and build hype to this climax of sensation that we 301 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 2: feel overwhelmed. We feel overwhelmed by God's presence or his 302 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: comfort or his calling, but that's not going to be 303 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 2: what's consistent with our day to day now. Another thing 304 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,719 Speaker 2: that I think we need to be careful not to 305 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: do when we're trying to restore that connection is not 306 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 2: to withdraw spiritually. Silence can feel safer than disappointment, but 307 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 2: isolation rarely brings clarity. And I remember after my father died, 308 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 2: my earthly father. It wasn't a conscious decision, and I 309 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 2: didn't realize it until years later. But I had adopted 310 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:34,360 Speaker 2: the faulty belief that if my earthly father could leave, 311 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 2: what would prevent God from leaving? And it felt safer 312 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 2: if I walked away God remained there. But I went 313 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 2: through a spiritutual dryness because I kind of turned my 314 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: back on God and said, it will hurt less if 315 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 2: I walk away than if you walk away. Well, the 316 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 2: truth is He's not going to walk away. So withdrawing 317 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 2: spiritually is definitely something we don't want to do when 318 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 2: we feel dry. 319 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 3: Yes, because isolation. I see withdrawing spiritually and we withdraw 320 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 3: we almost put ourselves into an isolation. Yeah, And isolation 321 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 3: leads us into a trap where our fears grow louder 322 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 3: in our heads and our hearts, and it's harder to 323 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 3: hear God's whisper. 324 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 2: So good. The third thing that I think we should 325 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 2: not do is interpret dryness as disqualification, and I include 326 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 2: that because I've gone through that. I think many believers 327 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 2: assume that dryness means they're spiritually stuck, immature, or doing 328 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: something wrong, or that we're being punished, But none of 329 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 2: those interpretations are required. Dryness doesn't mean regression. In fact, 330 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: it often signals reorganization. God may be preparing us in 331 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 2: that quiet for something new, So don't assume that it 332 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 2: means that you're disqualified. In fact, it may mean God 333 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 2: is preparing you for the next like of your journey exactly. 334 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 3: And I have done all three of these. I have 335 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 3: prolonged my dry season by spending too much time looking backward, 336 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: looking backward with longing at this amazing experience that I 337 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 3: missed what God was trying to do quietly in my heart. 338 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: And then when. 339 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 3: I withdrew spiritually from God, I experienced the surprising negative 340 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 3: result of feeling fishures and actually disconnected in my people 341 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 3: to people relationships. And then I disqualified myself because I 342 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 3: wouldn't listen to reason. I'd have a friend who was 343 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 3: trying to encourage me, and I just kept saying no, no, no, 344 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 3: what you say applies to you, but not to me, 345 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,719 Speaker 3: because I wouldn't listen to the words of encouragement that 346 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 3: she was offering to me. And all three of these, frankly, 347 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:55,360 Speaker 3: are common experiences. And if you are experiencing these, please 348 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 3: hear us. We're not trying to add more bird into 349 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 3: your shoulders. We're trying to show you that we've been 350 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 3: where you are, and we're here as signposts to point 351 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 3: the way forward. So now that we've discussed three things 352 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 3: that we've learned not to do, let's consider how we 353 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 3: can respond to spiritual dryness or disconnection from God in 354 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 3: a more appropriate manner. 355 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 2: Okay, so what do we do when we're in this place? 356 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 2: And this is the part that I think so many 357 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,199 Speaker 2: people look fit forward too, because we want to do 358 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: we want to get through, we want to reclaim that 359 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 2: connection that we previously felt. Okay, there are some things 360 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:43,400 Speaker 2: that you can do, but not from a performance standpoint. 361 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 2: So the first thing to do is to stop forcing feelings. 362 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 2: God is not waiting for you to manufacture passion. What 363 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 2: He's looking for us, for us to show up. 364 00:23:55,520 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 3: Honestly, Yes, and God, I almost want to say that 365 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 3: not having passion is a feeling. Not feeling anything is 366 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 3: still a feeling. God made us this whole person, not 367 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 3: in fragments labeled good or bad. Feelings are both and 368 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 3: and both kinds. 369 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: Have a purpose. 370 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 3: So what if we brought our numb selves to God 371 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 3: and said, here I am, I'm exhausted, worn out, and 372 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 3: annoyed by the tag in my sweater? What do you 373 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: want from me? And then he would say I want you, 374 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 3: all of you. So then we can take this single 375 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 3: honest sentence like God, I feel far from you, and 376 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 3: it can be more powerful than an hour of prayer. 377 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 3: And instead of forcing yourself to reach your Bible every day, 378 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 3: set a smaller goal of two or three days, and 379 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 3: when you're in the car, turn on the audio Bible 380 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 3: option in the You version Bible app or listen to 381 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,239 Speaker 3: one of the songs from the weekend worship set from 382 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 3: your church, or look. 383 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 1: Up the lyrics and read them like a poem. 384 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 2: What I hear you saying is to shift from quantity 385 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:10,719 Speaker 2: to quality being honest. It doesn't mean that you have 386 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 2: to be engaged in an hour of Bible study. Sometimes 387 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 2: when you're spiritually dry, that will push you further away 388 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 2: trying to live up to an expectation. But those honest, 389 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 2: simple prayers. My third recommendation would be anchor yourself in truth, 390 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 2: not emotion. So even when you don't feel close, speak 391 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 2: truth out loud, recite His promises, and let the truth 392 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:43,239 Speaker 2: of those promises rule over your emotions. There was a 393 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 2: time in my life where I felt spiritually disconnected from God. 394 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:50,880 Speaker 2: I was going through a season of depression, and quite honestly, 395 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 2: you know, people would say have a good day, and 396 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 2: I'd think, what is there good about today? And I 397 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 2: forced myself every day to start off declaring a truth, 398 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 2: a promise from God. That's why I wrote the devotional 399 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 2: today is going to be a good day, ninety promises 400 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 2: to start your day off right, because I needed to 401 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 2: be anchored in truth, not how I was feeling. 402 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 3: Oh, I just wanted to just sit there for a minute. 403 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 3: God's promises are enough, aren't they? 404 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 1: They really are. 405 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 3: So our fourth tip is to invite God into the dryness. 406 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 3: Instead of praying your way out of dryness, try praying 407 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 3: through it. Dry seasons often deepen roots in a way 408 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 3: emotional seasons cannot. 409 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: I kind of. 410 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 3: I think of this, and I've told my kids this, 411 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 3: God is going to lead us through desert seasons, and 412 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 3: we can just run alongside of the desert season saying no, 413 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 3: I don't want to go. I don't want to go, 414 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 3: but you know what, He's with us in the dryness 415 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 3: in the desert seasons, So let's just go through with him. 416 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 3: And we can do that by talking to him throughout 417 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 3: the day, just saying boy, Lord, birds are really noisy 418 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 3: and I can't fall asleep, or wow, traffic is awful today, 419 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 3: or wow, look at that spot opened up. Thanks, or oh, 420 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 3: thank you for that sunrise, or you know, I don't 421 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 3: know how to handle this communication. I need to send 422 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,880 Speaker 3: an email. Would you help me compose it? And what 423 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 3: this does? It helps us look beyond our troubles to him. 424 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 3: It's inviting him into our every day and this really 425 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 3: does develop an awareness of his presence that deepens the 426 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:34,479 Speaker 3: more we do it. 427 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 2: You're so right, And I've talked about this on the 428 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 2: podcast before, but I refer to that as looking for 429 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 2: simple joys, like God has sprinkled joy throughout our day, 430 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 2: but so often I don't take the time to see it. Yeah, 431 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 2: the sitting where I am, I can see the green 432 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 2: leaves on the tree, and it's just so beautiful. I 433 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 2: think back to the winter months where it was brown, 434 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 2: dead leaves, nothing encouraging it. And so today I can 435 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 2: thank God for the beauty of nature. I can thank 436 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 2: him for that parking spot that didn't have to be there, 437 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,360 Speaker 2: but it was there and I could avail myself of it. 438 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 2: I can thank him that, Oh, when I looked in 439 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 2: the fridge. All the ingredients were there to make my dinner, 440 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 2: and I don't have to go to the grocery store. 441 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 2: It's looking for those simple joys. And I think about 442 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 2: when my kids are grateful, when they thank me for 443 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 2: doing their laundry or making a meal, or remembering them 444 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 2: and texting them that I'm praying for them. That thrills 445 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 2: my heart. Yes, I love the thank yous on Christmas morning, 446 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 2: but I so delight in their gratitude that how much 447 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 2: more does our heavenly Father delight we take the time 448 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 2: to notice what He's done for us. The last thing 449 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,479 Speaker 2: that I would suggest that we do when we're feeling 450 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 2: spiritually dry, and this is not an exhaustive list, friends, 451 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 2: In fact, we'd like to hear other suggestions that you have, 452 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 2: But the last thing that comes to my mind is 453 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 2: to tend to your nervous system. Things like sleep, gentle movement, 454 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: taking the time to breathe deeply, spending time in nature. 455 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 2: All these things help regulate the brain and it actually 456 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 2: helps create space for spiritual connection and increase our receptiveness 457 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 2: to hear from God. 458 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 3: Which is amazing, right because when you're in the middle 459 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 3: of a spiritual dryness. The last thing you think of 460 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 3: is hearing from God because it's like his voice is mute. 461 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 3: But this brings so much hope that maybe, just maybe dryness. 462 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: Can become a gift. 463 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 3: Oh yes, some of the deepest spiritual maturity is formed 464 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 3: in seasons where God feels quiet. I'm going to challenge you, 465 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 3: instead of wishing away this dry season, to look at 466 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 3: it as a gift, because dryness strips away performance based faith, 467 00:29:55,480 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 3: emotional dependency, and shallow theology, and it replaces them with perseverance, trust, 468 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 3: and anchored hope. 469 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 2: So it's like roots growing underground where no one sees exactly. 470 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 3: And just because you can't see growth doesn't mean that 471 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 3: God isn't working. Some of the strongest believers that I've 472 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 3: known didn't grow. 473 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: Because God felt close. 474 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 3: They grew because they learned to trust God when he 475 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 3: felt quiet. 476 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: And it requires we keep showing. 477 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 2: Up and friends, if God feels distant right now, resusts 478 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 2: the urge to diagnose yourself, to blame yourself, to shame yourself. Instead, 479 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 2: consider this, what if this season isn't about fixing your 480 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 2: faith but strengthening its foundation. Faith that endures silence is 481 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 2: not weaker faith. It's anchored faith. So justs as we 482 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 2: wrap this episode up, if a listener or a viewer 483 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 2: is resonating with our conversation today, maybe they've been feeling 484 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 2: spiritually dry or disconnected from God. What hope filled perspective 485 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 2: would you want to leave them with? 486 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 3: Well, I would like to leave you with this that 487 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 3: a bamboo tree looks like nothing is happening for years, 488 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 3: but around year four it enters a growth spurt. Much 489 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 3: was happening beneath the surface that our physical eyes cannot see. 490 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 3: And I want you to remember that much is happening 491 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 3: in your life too, even if it doesn't look like it. 492 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 3: God makes a way, even if it doesn't look like it. 493 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 3: He tends to our hearts, even if it doesn't look 494 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 3: like it. He turns deserts into beauty. So today, keep 495 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 3: the faith and hold on to courage. 496 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 2: Keep the faith and hold on to courage. That's good, friends. 497 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: I would offer that if you're feeling spiritually dry today, 498 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 2: hear this. God is not disappointed in you. Yeah, and 499 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 2: he is near. Isaiah forty one ten says, so do 500 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 2: not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, 501 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 2: for I am your God. But both USA and I 502 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 2: have been in that spiritually dry place and it can 503 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 2: feel lonely and it can feel like we're unseen. So 504 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 2: I just want to pray for you Lord, for every 505 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 2: listener or viewer who feels weary, numb, or distant from you. 506 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,360 Speaker 2: Would you gently remind them that you are still present, 507 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 2: meet them not in pressure, but in your peace. Restore 508 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: their souls in your timing and in your way in 509 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:33,480 Speaker 2: Jesus name, I pray Amen. Friends, thank you for joining 510 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 2: us for this episode of your Hope Filled Perspective. If 511 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 2: this conversation names something that maybe you've struggled to articulate, 512 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 2: I hope it offered clarity rather than pressure. And if 513 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 2: you know someone who's been feeling spiritually dry or disconnected 514 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 2: from God, please consider sharing this episode with them to 515 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 2: give them a biblically based hope Field perspective to encourage 516 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 2: them in their faith journey. If you are a regular 517 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 2: listener or viewer of your Hope Field Perspective, we would 518 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 2: love it if if you'd give this episode a thumbs 519 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 2: up and consider subscribing so you'll know each time we 520 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 2: drop a new hope Field perspective to encourage your day 521 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 2: until we're together for our next episode. Friends, stay curious, 522 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 2: stay honest, and keep showing up. In the meantime, It's 523 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,680 Speaker 2: my prayer for you that you have a hope filled week. 524 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 4: Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, 525 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 4: or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, 526 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 4: or unexpected and unwanted change. Often pain is temporary, but 527 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,719 Speaker 4: what do you do when it isn't? When pain won't 528 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 4: go away, healing does not come, and grief and hurt 529 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 4: settle in to stay. Drawing on her experience of chronic 530 00:33:56,160 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 4: pain in her years as a board certified clinical neuropsychologist, 531 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 4: doctor Michelle Bankson provides a countercultural perspective on pain, offering 532 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 4: hope without any false promises or empty platitudes. Doctor Benkson 533 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 4: unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. She 534 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:19,880 Speaker 4: gives you permission to question God, helps you identify the 535 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 4: lies you've believed about your pain, and reorients your perspective 536 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 4: based on the truth of God's word. Each chapter ends 537 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 4: with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer. Your 538 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:37,319 Speaker 4: pain may not change, but your experience with it can. 539 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 4: Doctor Sondra Dalton Smith, physician, best selling author and a 540 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 4: host of the I Choose My Best Life podcast, had 541 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:51,280 Speaker 4: this to say about the Hem of His Garment. Doctor 542 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 4: Michelle Bankson is honest and transparent, and she gives the 543 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:58,840 Speaker 4: reader permission to ask hard questions and practical guidance on 544 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 4: how to seek God during times when you feel the 545 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:05,959 Speaker 4: most wounded. A beautiful gift for every person living with pain. 546 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:10,720 Speaker 4: Holy Girth. Best selling author of What Your Mind Needs 547 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 4: for Anxious Moments says pain is inevitable, but enduring it 548 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 4: alone is optional. Doctor Michelle Bankson is a voice of 549 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 4: hope who will speak into your struggles at helping hand 550 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:25,760 Speaker 4: who will point you to Jesus and a wise guide 551 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,239 Speaker 4: who will lead you through what you're facing so you 552 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:33,879 Speaker 4: can embrace more of what our good God has for you. 553 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 4: Pick up a copy of The Hem of His Garment 554 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 4: for you and a friend wherever books are sold. 555 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 5: Thank you for joining doctor Bason for your hope fuilled perspective. 556 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 5: We hope you are encouraged by her authenticity, vulnerability, and 557 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:56,520 Speaker 5: biblical truths. If you enjoy today's conversation, when you take 558 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:59,840 Speaker 5: a moment right now, open up your podcast app and 559 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 5: look for the subscribe button right next to our podcast 560 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 5: profile image. We think this podcast is best enjoyed with friends, 561 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:09,279 Speaker 5: so tell a friend and click share in your podcast 562 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 5: app and send a friend our link to share Hope 563 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 5: with them. If you have a comment, question, or suggest 564 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 5: a topic for a future show, reach out to our 565 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 5: staff at info at Hope Prevails dot org for additional resources. 566 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 5: Information about doctor Bankson's books where free downloads, or to 567 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 5: contact her to speak at your next event, Please visit 568 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 5: doctor Michelbe dot com. Until next time, May you have 569 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:35,720 Speaker 5: a hope filledweek. 570 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 2: I'd like to take just a second to thank the 571 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,160 Speaker 2: team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on 572 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 2: this podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you'll 573 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 2: find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 574 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:54,760 Speaker 2: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.