Holding On to God in the Darkness

The spiritual landscape of our lives can often feel like a desert. Even when we have the best resources solid teaching, vibrant worship, and deep Christian friendships we can find ourselves asking, “Why am I not feeling it? Why doesn’t the gospel stir my heart like it should? Why does joy feel out of reach?”

This question isn’t new. Over the years, I’ve met countless believers, especially young adults and college students, who are perplexed by their lack of spiritual excitement. They long for Jesus, yet their emotions seem muted. They want to savor the beauty of the gospel, yet it feels as though their taste buds are dulled.

If you have ever wrestled with this, you are not alone.

Two Common Diagnoses

1. Spiritually Dead

For some, the issue is that they have never truly come alive to God. Scripture tells us that before the light of Christ shines into our hearts, we are spiritually blind (2 Corinthians 4:6). We find the Bible boring because it humbles us, confronting the self-centeredness that naturally rules our lives.

But if you’re troubled by your lack of affection for God, that in itself is a sign of life. The spiritually dead are not typically concerned about their deadness.

2. Spiritually Distracted

More commonly, our numbness is due to distraction. Like a child too full of candy to enjoy a wholesome meal, we nibble on lesser joys endless scrolling, gaming, entertainment and then wonder why we lack hunger for God. We live in an age of constant stimulation, and our souls become dull from the noise.

Psalm 27:4 speaks of a singular desire to gaze on the beauty of the Lord. Yet if we’re honest, our lives sound more like:
“Twenty-six things have I asked of the Lord, and gazing upon His beauty is somewhere down the list.”

Taking a hard look at our habits our screen time, our prayer life, and even our thought patterns can reveal why our affections for God are dim. But what happens when we do all this, and the dryness still remains?

When the Dryness Doesn’t Lift

There are seasons when, despite every effort, joy feels elusive. We pray, read Scripture, attend church, and still feel like our hearts are half-asleep. Psalm 88 describes this feeling vividly:

“Every day I call upon you, O Lord;
I spread out my hands to you.
I suffer your terrors;
I am helpless.” (Psalm 88:9, 15)

When you find yourself there, remember that you are not forgotten. God uses even these desert seasons to shape your faith and deepen your dependence on Him.

Here are five practical helps for walking through spiritual dryness.

1. Trace Sunbeams Back to the Sun

God’s creation is filled with reminders of His goodness. A Christian counselor once encouraged me to engage with the tangible world to touch a leaf and remember God’s creativity, to feel the breeze and remember His gentleness. James 1:17 reminds us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” Learn to let even the simplest things awaken gratitude and worship.

2. Let Art Wake You Up

God is not boring, but our hearts can grow dull. Music, poetry, and film can often crack open our hearts when nothing else will. A moving song or a beautifully crafted story can point us back to God’s beauty. Don’t be afraid to let these moments stir your affections for Him.

3. Serve the Poor and Broken

Comfort and abundance often numb our longing for heaven. Hosea 13:5–6 warns that when Israel became full and satisfied, they forgot God. Serving those who are hurting — the poor, the orphan, the widow not only reflects God’s heart but also awakens our own hearts to the brokenness of this world and our need for the hope of Christ.

4. Gaze at Jesus, Not at Your Feelings

We often make the mistake of looking inward to measure our spiritual health, constantly checking our “spiritual pulse.” But our hope isn’t in our feelings it’s in Jesus. His perfect faith and obedience cover our weakness. When we look to Him, rather than to our lack of passion, we find our hearts slowly warming to His love.

5. Wait Quietly Before God

Our fast-paced world has trained us to despise waiting. Yet Scripture calls waiting good:

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25–26)

Spiritual dryness isn’t always a sign of failure. Sometimes it’s an invitation to wait — to trust God in the silence and believe that the dawn is coming. As Jesus promised, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).

Hope Beyond the Desert

This life is full of seasons that test our faith, but they will not last forever. As Gandalf said in The Lord of the Rings, soon “the grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass.” One day, we will see Jesus face to face (1 John 3:2), and every ounce of numbness will be swallowed up by eternal joy.

For now, wait on Him. Keep pressing into prayer, Scripture, and community, even when it feels like trudging through the wilderness. God is at work in ways we cannot see. The darkness is temporary, but His light is everlasting.

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