Spiritual Dryness

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Miraluna

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What do you do during periods of spiritual dryness? I know these are important and purposeful times. Because one should not just have faith and pursue God when one feels His presence. During the periods when we do not feel Him as close are the true test of faith. I try to keep to my prayer and Bible reading commitments (perhaps, I change a few prayers or add music or journal instead), I try to go to daily Mass, and I read books that can help my faith, and I read blogs, like this, I pray that I may feel that peace and joy that comes with feeling close to God, again. What do you make of this time? I fear dwelling in it too long. And I want to use the time well. It does build the anticipation and desire of God and that is a good thing. But it is a lonely time.

God Bless,
Miranda
 
Miranda,

Just keep doing what you’re doing, minus the attachment to getting the good feelings and consolations back. God teaches us through the dryness to seek Him with a pure love, and not with a self-interested love that desires what we can get from Him as a reward.

It is in the dry times that you prove your love for God by continuing to be faithful despite the lack of consolations. Hang in there and accept the dryness with resignation and humility.
 
The first thing I look at during periods of spiritual dryness is myself. Is there something keeping me from the friendship of God? I reflect on the seven capital sins and my attachment to them (The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness (also known as avarice or greed), lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth. In my examination of conscience I usually find some attachments to sin that I need to confess.

Confession is the most healing of the sacraments. I do not find confession easy, but in times when I know I will be tested, or need to devote time in intercession, I know it’s the first thing I need to do. Build up my armor.

God Bless you in this time, and strength and peace to you.
 
Strangely, I came in tonight - and planned to post something about this. Don’t even know if my case is spiritual dryness - or just not praying at all.

What’s wrong with me? Why can’t / don’t I pray? I BELIEVE in everything I’ve been taught. Am I too tired, lazy or too easily caught up in TV or other distractions? I do know there are times when I have a desire to pay a visit to my Church - sometimes I can get there - not often - but I can’t describe the reason behind that desire.

Why can’t / don’t I pray?
 
Conservative, what you’re describing is not dryness but lukewarmness due to spiritual sloth. The answer to why you’re not praying is because you’ve chosen not to.

If you want to fix that, you need to make a daily commitment to prayer. I started with just 10 minutes at a time in the morning and had excellent results from that. Without worrying about how much time I spent in prayer, the time gradually increased to anywhere from 20 - 45 minutes.

You will find with daily prayer that the lukewarmness vanishes, and if you keep it up you will advance to where the OP is, which is where the wonderful gift of infused contemplation begins.

Oh, and the reason behind your desire to go to Church - God is calling you into a closer relationship with Himself. 😉
 
I believe spiritual dryness is purgative in the sense that it is meant to purge us of our attachments.

Miraluna, you seem to being everything that I myself could think of. Cling to Him who is the fount of our joy. All these will pass.
Sometimes it is helpful to simply rest in God. Imagine yourself as a baby in God’s arms.

Conservative. Pray. I have found that the Rosary is a great prayer of aridity. You are still praying even when you don’t feel like you are because are not feeling it. Lectio Divina is especially helpful too.
 
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