Article
What does it mean when prayer feels dry?
You still show up. It just feels like talking into a room with the lights off.
The short answer
Dryness in prayer is a long-recognized part of Christian experience rather than proof of failure. It can accompany grief, exhaustion, depression or a season of change, and it is worth attending to rather than pushing through alone.
What can be underneath it
- Exhaustion or depression, which flatten many experiences including prayer.
- Grief, which often changes how prayer feels for a long while.
- Disappointment you have not admitted to God or anyone else.
- A method of prayer that no longer fits the season you are in.
- Genuine spiritual dryness, which the Christian tradition has described for centuries.
What sometimes helps
Fewer words. Shorter time. Silence, a psalm, a walk, a written sentence. Many women find that a change of form matters more than a change of effort.
It also helps to stop grading yourself on how prayer feels. Faithfulness and warmth are not the same measurement.
Where to take it
If dryness comes with exhaustion, low mood or numbness in everything, counseling is a good place to start, because the body and mind are involved. If the rest of life is steady and prayer is the question, spiritual direction is often the better fit.
Common questions
Does dry prayer mean I have done something wrong?
Not necessarily. Many faithful people describe long dry seasons.
Should I keep praying anyway?
Many find that continuing simply and briefly is more sustainable than stopping or striving.
Which does Lori offer for this?
Both counseling and spiritual direction, and she can help you choose.
Learn more about Christian counseling with Lori with Lori, or browse all articles on Christian counseling.
Written by Lori Rasmussen, LISW, a Licensed Independent Social Worker licensed in the State of Iowa and a Certified Spiritual Director. Lori counsels women and female students in Waterloo, Iowa and online across Iowa. Articles here are meant to help you understand what you may be experiencing; they are not a diagnosis and they do not take the place of care from a professional who knows your story.
Reaching out can be the first step.
You don't need to know exactly what to say, or have anything figured out, before you contact Lori.
Or email rasmussencounselingandsd@gmail.com