OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL DRYNESS

Beloved Companions on the Path,

I write to you today about a phenomenon that every sincere seeker eventually encounters: spiritual dryness. There come seasons in our journey when the practices that once filled us with joy feel mechanical, when prayers that once soared to heaven seem to fall flat, when the sense of divine presence that once warmed our hearts grows distant and cold. If you are experiencing such a season now, know that you are not being punished, you have not lost your way, and you are not failing in your spiritual walk.

Spiritual dryness is actually a sign of progress, though this may seem counterintuitive. In the beginning stages of spiritual development, the Divine often grants us abundant consolations—feelings of peace, experiences of presence, emotional highs during prayer and meditation. These gifts are given to encourage us, to draw us deeper into relationship, to convince us of spiritual realities. But as we mature, these consolations are sometimes withdrawn so that our motivation can be purified. Are we seeking the Divine for the gifts or for the Giver? Do we pursue spiritual practices for the feelings they produce or out of genuine love and commitment?

During these dry periods, continuing your practices without emotional reward demonstrates true devotion. When you meditate, even though you feel nothing, when you pray even though heaven seems silent, when you study even though understanding seems distant, you are building spiritual muscle that cannot be developed any other way. This is faith in its purest form—believing not because you feel but because you have chosen to trust.

I encourage you to persist during these desert times. Do not abandon your practices or conclude that they no longer work. Continue showing up, continue doing the work, continue walking the path even when it feels like you are walking alone. This is precisely when you are making the most significant progress, though you cannot see it with your physical eyes. The roots of trees grow deepest during droughts, pushing further down to find water. So too does your spiritual root system strengthen during these seemingly barren seasons.

Remember also to be gentle with yourself. Spiritual dryness can bring discouragement, and discouragement can lead to harsh self-judgment. Resist this temptation. Instead, practice self-compassion. Acknowledge the difficulty of the season while refusing to label yourself as inadequate or unworthy. This too shall pass, and when it does, you will emerge with greater depth, stronger faith, and more genuine devotion.

Walking beside you,

Your Patriarch Johnson