A Season of Drought

Relentless heat cracking the earth. Vegetation drooping and withered. Tumbleweeds skittering across the dry, dusty landscape. This was the painted canvas my husband and I viewed for seven long years of extreme drought in the panhandle of Nebraska. The once happy, smiling faces grew weary and taut with worry and despair. Dry land farmers wrung their hands as they saw their planted crops shrivel and die. Main street merchants were forced to hang “closed” signs on their doors. And we wondered why God was not answering our pleas for moisture.

The eighth year brought the rains and the earth began to drink in the living waters. It would be years to restore the once verdant green countryside but there was renewed hope. God did provide for us. 1 Timothy 6:17

Perhaps you have gone through a drought in your life or are going through one right now. A spiritual drought can leave you dry and needy. Why has God brought this difficult season of drought upon you? This isn’t an easy question to answer. Of one thing we can be sure. If we trust in Him, he is always there. The rains of healing will come again.
Spiritual dryness can be a time of preparation. If the Lord allowed us to have moisture all the time, our root system would be shallow and we’d never sprout deeper roots in our relationship with God. Our shallow roots would be easily uprooted by a gust of wind.
What are some things we can do during these periods of spiritual dryness? For me, it is reading God’s word regularly, talking to Him in prayer, worshiping and communing with my family at Sheridan, and offering praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. It’s easy to praise God when the road of life is smooth. True men and women of Christian character praise God through the potholes in the road as well.
Dear heavenly Father, When the gusty winds and dust are blowing on my heart, guide me to trust in you to bring the living waters to my soul. Quench my thirsty spirit and make me whole again. Amen.
~Patty Forsberg