Reconnecting with God After a Spiritual Drought
Where are you, Lord?
I have whispered those words on more than one occasion throughout my spiritual journey, and I’m sure you also have. Experiencing a disconnection from the Lord can leave us wandering in a wilderness of doubt and questioning.
In the book of Ruth, we meet Naomi, a woman grieving the loss of her husband and two sons. Angry and bitter, Naomi decides to return to her hometown, Bethlehem, to start a new life. Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, fiercely committed to Naomi, travels with her.
Naomi and Ruth created quite a stir when they arrived at their destination, and when greeted by her friends, Naomi quickly pointed out two things, her name isn’t Naomi anymore, and the Lord has abandoned her. She said, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” (Ruth 1:20-21)
Naomi lost everything, and bitterness and anger took over her heart. She felt so disconnected from the Lord that she didn’t even want to be called by her birth name – a reminder of who she once was.
Two years ago, I felt like Naomi. I lost my dad and brother within five weeks of each other. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. Disconnection, anger, and abandonment are just a few feelings I had towards God.
Death isn’t the only thing that can leave us feeling disconnected. It can be a prayer that wasn’t answered in a way that we’d hope, a loss of a job, a wayward child, temptations of worldly things, and whatever else the world throws at us that can throw us off our spiritual journey.
Here is the thing to remember; God is not disconnected from us. He doesn’t throw His hands up in the air and proclaim He is done. The Lord doesn’t push us away from Him; in fact, He yearns for us to draw closer to Him.
Friends, we are the ones who disconnect from God. We are the ones who give up and proclaim that God has left us. We are the ones who push Him away.
Not once has God ever left us. Nor will He ever leave us.
So, what can we do when we feel disconnected from God? How can we get out of the spiritual rut and live a life the Lord intended us to live?
Here are few things that I put into practice to reconnect with our amazing Father after a season of disconnect.
Begin the day with prayer. After waking up to begin the day, sit in silence, and devote some time in prayer. If you don’t know where to start, just ASK – Ask. Seek. Knock. (Matthew 7:7)
Ask for forgiveness of your sins. Is there a sin that is standing between you and God? Confess that sin to Him and start back on the path of reconnecting with Him. Scripture says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and to forgive our sins. (1 John 1:9)
Read your Bible. There is nothing that can bring us closer to God than reading His Word. The Bible is God’s love letter to us. Woven throughout the pages are verses that remind us of His love and forgiveness. His Words are alive and active. (Hebrews 4:12)
Resist conforming to the world. As believers in Christ, we are transforming in the image of Him, while the world wants us to conform to its ways. We cannot transform in Jesus and conform to the world at the same time. It’s one or the other. (Romans 12:2)
Share your feelings with God. Let the Lord know your feelings. Write them out, say them or even shout them out to Him. Whatever you feel is holding you back from God, let Him know. He is ready to listen. (1 Peter 5:7)
As I began to shrink the distance between God and myself, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I realized that God never left my side, and I’m so thankful for His love, grace, and mercy.
For Naomi, she saw the love of God through the kindness of Boaz. Ruth and Boaz married, and Ruth gave birth to Obed. Naomi’s bitterness turned to joy as she held that sweet baby. Obed was the father of Jesse, King David’s father, whose family line would produce the Savior of the world – Jesus Christ.
If you feel disconnected from God, know that you are loved. Run to Him. He is waiting.
