"Dry" prayer

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awatkins69

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I have been having a tough time. Maybe some people know what I am talking about. I will call it “dry prayer”. Sometimes when I pray, I can make a good connection with God or Our Lady. However, most of the time, it seems like if I were talking into a dark room and I do not feel nor hear any reply coming back, except maybe my own echo. It seems to me almost like a one-way conversation. Does anybody know what I am talking about? Has anybody else had this problem? Is there any advice for praying better? Thanks.
 
awatkins69 said:
I have been having a tough time. Maybe some people know what I am talking about. I will call it “dry prayer”. Sometimes when I pray, I can make a good connection with God or Our Lady. However, most of the time, it seems like if I were talking into a dark room and I do not feel nor hear any reply coming back, except maybe my own echo. It seems to me almost like a one-way conversation. Does anybody know what I am talking about? Has anybody else had this problem? Is there any advice for praying better? Thanks.
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Dry Prayer is a good term or it.
Yes, I have experienced it, and actually I experience it often.
I believe that in my case it has to do with my pesonality. I tend to be skeptical, and closed off. This, I believe, inhibits my ability to truly open myself up to God. The times when I feel God nearest o me is when I am mentally and emotionally exhausted and I am relying on Him to see me through. Other times, when things are just “chugging along”, I feel like He is farther away.

This is not uncommon by the way and many great saints write of it. The thing to do is to persevere, as best we can, to keep praying and “keep in touch” with God. He may not be speaking to us, but we should know that, at least, He is listening.

Peace
James
 
I’ll bet just about every person on this forum has had times during prayer when they felt they were just talking to empty space.

When I feel that way, I generally attribute it not to God’s distraction, but my own. To be honest, in those times I try to figure out what’s really on my mind, acknowledge that, and try praying again later.
 
JRKH said:
Dry Prayer is a good term or it.
Yes, I have experienced it, and actually I experience it often.
I believe that in my case it has to do with my pesonality. I tend to be skeptical, and closed off. This, I believe, inhibits my ability to truly open myself up to God. The times when I feel God nearest o me is when I am mentally and emotionally exhausted and I am relying on Him to see me through. Other times, when things are just “chugging along”, I feel like He is farther away.
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Wow, I could have written that about myself! It’s a relief to know that I’m not the only one who feels inhibited in that way. And you’re right, the only thing to do is keep praying anyway, knowing that God is listening, even if I don’t always feel it.
 
Run a simple search on this spirituality forum for “dry prayer” or “aridity” or “darkness.” You’ll get lots of hits. It’s a very common experience in Christian spiritual life about which many saints and spiritual directors have written. 👍
 
A great book on the subject is “When the Well Runs Dry” by Fr. Thomas Green, SJ. Very fine treatment of the subject.
 
Dryness in prayer is an inconvenience, but it’s not a “problem.” It’s a normal and necessary part of the spiritual life. May I suggest a program by Fr. Benedict Groeschel of EWTN? It’s called Mountain and Valleys.
 
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