Relational Connection Heals Spiritual Dryness

Nov 17, 2022

One of my favorite songs is called “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. The lyrics of the bridge say:

So come on, my soul
Oh, don't you get shy on me
Lift up your song
'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord

I love these powerful words and the sentiment of coaxing one’s soul into a state of worship.

So often our hearts remain frustratingly cold. Whether it’s because of the endless distractions, constant temptation, or just our ever present sinful nature - even when we WANT to worship, there are times when our souls are stubborn in their nonchalant perspective towards God. Sometimes, as this singer does, we have to tell our souls, “Come on, don’t get shy, lift up your song, PRAISE the Lord!”

Sometimes when we don’t FEEL like worshiping, we must choose obedience and let the feelings follow.

But when we’re in spiritually dry seasons, it can be tough to do it on our own. That’s why God uses our community to disciple us. Relational connection combats the deep loneliness of seasons spent in the wilderness.

When I have faced burnout, spiritual dryness, or a lack of discipline within my spiritual rhythms, relational connection has ministered to my soul.

There have been moments where I’ve sung those lyrics, demanding that my soul FEEL something, and realized the people around me were singing with me. I wasn’t alone. My roommates, parents, friends, and loved ones, were praying on my behalf, encouraging me, discipling me, whether with their words, actions, or just their presence.

In some of the toughest moments, I have been reminded that God was still there through the vibrant faith of my brother, the encouraging words of my close friends, the genuine passion of my worship leaders, the intentional care from my pastors, and the knowing looks from my mentors. When our souls are struggling, God ministers to us through the words, actions, and spiritual journeys of those around us. That’s relational connection. That’s discipleship.

I love in the book of Job, how Job’s friends respond to his suffering.

They don’t handle it perfectly, but they do something that has always stuck with me. Job had lost everything, his money, family, and loved ones. He was facing the greatest season of grief he had ever been in. And his friends were present:

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

- Job 2:13

They sat with him. They didn’t say anything. They were there.

It might seem small, but his friends knew that Job needed presence over problem-solving. They didn’t need to give him a speech about how God was still good. They didn’t need to try to fix his situation. Their presence alone was ministering to him. Their comfort was his lifeline. Their dedication was his greatest source of discipleship.

If you are struggling to find God right now, if you are desperate for a deeper connection but you just aren’t finding it… look around you. What is God doing in the lives of the people you are connected to? Could your soul be ministered to by their journey?

If you are thriving, if you’re in a season of spiritual fruit, who is God inviting you to sit with silently? Who needs a voice of encouragement? Who is the Job in your life God might be inviting you to disciple? Maybe not through word or deed, maybe just by presence.