I actually have been going through this on and off for about a few weeks now. I just recently stopped drinking and that is usually what I would use to calm down or as a “reward.” (Day 41, but who’s counting?) To say I have had to rely on strength from the Lord is an understatement. I will say though, if you seek Jesus, He will supply everything you need to be spiritually fed. As Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” I am also reminded of the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. The fruits of the spirit have been and ongoing practice for me, but the more I seek Him, the more He adds to me, even when I’m spiritually dry. Praying also helps, even if you don’t feel like He’s listening. You can lean on structured prayers (like Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer) when your own words are hard to find. Additionally, soaking in scripture will help feed your spirit. I have problems honestly with reading scripture when I do feel dry, but I am learning that when I do, I tend to feel better after. Transitionally, one of my favorite things to do is worship. Since I am a stay-at-home mom, I can put on worship whenever I want to. So, usually, I will put on Apple music and just let it play, sometimes all day. It truly does make a difference. If you are a working mom, even taking a five-ten-minute break to worship can help. When I am spiritually dry, I tend to get isolated. I can’t really tell if I do it on purpose or if the enemy just makes me believe that I can handle things on my own. However, this is not what Christ has called us to do. Proverbs 18:1 says, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgement.” Community really does help even when we feel like we want to be alone. I have done this many times in my life and I can honestly tell you, learning from other believers, along with the Holy Spirt brings the best parts of you out, some that you didn’t even know was there. In closing, we have to remember to put our trust in God and know even through the desert and wilderness seasons, He is still with us.

ACTION PLAN

• Start “one verse a day” practice (I usually write it on a sticky note and put it on my mirror, do what works for you.)
• Pray during small duty tasks. If you are a stay at home parent like me, you can do this during folding laundry or washing dishes. If you are working, you can either do it right where you are at or go take a break.
• Ask a trusted friend to check in once a week about faith. Since I go to church every Sunday and Wednesday, I have a pretty solid foundation fo my faith, but during the week when I don’t go, I know I have AT LEAST two friends that I can check in with or they check in with me. Community truly makes a difference.