When God Feels Far Away: Faith Through Spiritual Dryness

Reflections on Chapter Fourteen of The Purpose Driven Life

“God is real, no matter how you feel.” These six words from chapter fourteen of The Purpose Driven Life echo in my mind, especially as I’ve wrestled with my own seasons of spiritual dryness. This chapter tackles one of the most honest and challenging aspects of faith- those inevitable moments when God seems far away, when our prayers feel like they’re bouncing off the ceiling, and when the vibrant relationship we once felt with our Creator feels more like a distant memory than a present reality. 

The Universal Experience of Spiritual Distance

What struck me most about Warren’s exploration of this topic is how universal this experience truly is. Even David, described as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) is credited in the Psalms, asking “Lord, why are you standing aloof and far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?” (Psalm 10:1). His honesty continues: “Why had you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help?” (Psalm 22:), and “Why have you abandoned me?” (Psalm 43:2; 44:24; 74:11; 88:14; 89:49). 

Job, in his suffering, searched everywhere for God’s presence: “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I turn to the south, but I cannot find him. But he knows where I am going. And when he has tested me like gold in a fire, he will pronounce me innocent” (Job 23:8-10). Even Jesus himself experienced this ultimate separation on the cross when he cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). 

If these giants of faith experienced seasons of spiritual drought, maybe there’s something normal, even necessary, about our own dark nights of the soul. St. John of the Cross coined this phrase, recognizing the spiritual dryness, doubt, and estrangement from God are not a departure from the Christian journey but rather integral parts of our spiritual formation. 

This realization has been both comforting and challenging for me. Comforting because it removes the shame and self-doubt that often accompany these dry seasons. We’re not broken, backslidden, or forgotten by God when we can’t feel His presence. God promised repeatedly, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 37:28; John 14:16-18; Hebrews 13:5). Yet it’s challenging because it means we can’t simply pray our way out of this season or manufacture spiritual feelings through religious activity. 

The Testing Ground of Authentic Faith

Warren makes a distinction that has reshaped my understanding of these difficult seasons: “God’s omnipresence and the manifestation of his presence are two different things.” God is always present, even when we’re completely unaware of Him. His presence is too prolific to be measured by our fluctuating feelings and fickle circumstances. God admits in Scripture that sometimes He hides His face from us (Isaiah 45:15). 

This distinction highlights what I believe is the central test of these dark seasons: Will we continue to love, trust , obey and worship God even when we have no sense of His presence or visible evidence of His work in our lives? This is where authentic faith can be forged; in the decision to trust God’s character when we can’t sense His closeness. 

I’ve learned that God is more concerned with our trust than he is with our trembling emotions. Faith, please God (Hebrews 11:6). This doesn’t mean our emotions are unimportant to him or that we should suppress them from him, no, it means that the foundation of our relationship with God must be built on something more solid and steadfast than our ever-changing emotional experiences. 

Practical Pathways Through Spiritual Drought

I am seeing that through my own journey and Warren’s wisdom, there are several practical ways to navigate these challenging seasons:

Tell God exactly how you feel. There’s something freeing in honest prayer. Job didn’t hold back his complaints, and neither should we. “I can’t be quiet! I am angry and bitter. I have to speak!” (Job 7:11). He credit out when God seemed distant; “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4). God can handle our raw emotions, our confusion, and even our anger. In fact, admitting our hopelessness to God is a statement of faith; an acknowledgment that we need Him. As David said, “ I believed, so I said, ‘I am completely ruined!’” (Psalm 116:10). 

Focus on God’s unchanging character. When circumstances shift and emotions fluctuate, God’s nature remains constant and consistent. He is good, He loves us, He is with us, He knows what we’re going through, He cares, and He has a good plan for our lives. As V. Raymond Edmann wisely said, “Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.” Even in the darkest moments Job found things he could praise God for: that He is good and loving (job 10:12), that He is all powerful (Job 42:2; 37:5, 23), that He notices every detail of our lives (Job 23:10); 31:4), that He is in control (Job 34:13), that He has a plan for our lives (Job 23:14), and that He will save us (Job 19:25). 

Remember what God has already done. The cross stands as the ultimate evidence of  God’s love and commitment to us. Even if God never did another thing for us, what Jesus accomplished on our behalf would be worthy of our continual praise for the rest of our lives. As Scripture declares, “Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus gave up everything so we could have everything. He died so we could live forever with God. 

Trust God’s promises over your perceptions. During a season of spiritual dryness, we must patiently rely on God’s promises rather than our feelings. Proverbs 3:5 puts it this way: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." His grace is still sufficient even when we don’t feel it. He is still for us even when our circumstances suggest otherwise. This requires a deliberate decision to anchor ourselves in Scripture rather than in our subjective experiences. 

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The Names of God as Anchors in the Abyss

In my personal reflection time, I’ve found comfort in meditating on the names of God that reveal His constant presence and provision. Jehovah Jireh- the Lord who provides. Reminds me that even when I can’t see His hand at work, He is still my provider. Jehovah El Roi- the God who sees me. Assures me that I am never invisible or forgotten, even in my darkest moments. Emmanuel- God with us (Matthew 1:23). Declares that He goes with me through every valley and desert season. 

These names serve as anchors for my soul when the storms of life and spiritual dryness threaten to pull me away from my faith. They remind me that God’s presence is not dependent on my ability to perceive it, and His care for me is not contingent on my emotional state. 

Worship in the Wilderness

Learning to worship God when He seems far away requires a different kind of faith, one that chooses trust over temporary feelings. Job demonstrated this when, after losing everything, “he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:20-21). This is worship in its purest form. Praising God not for what he has given us, but for who He is. 

Warren warns against the common mistake of “seeking and experience rather than seeking God” in our worship. When we make feeling the measure of authentic worship, we set ourselves up for disappointment and doubt during the inevitable dry seasons. 

Growth Through the Goloom

Perhaps the most astute insight from this chapter is that these seasons of seeming separation are not obstacles to spiritual growth but essential components of it. Just as friendships are tested and strengthened through periods of separation and silence, our friendship with God is deepened through these challenging seasons. They teach us to love God for who He is rather than for how He makes us feel in a moment. They purify our hearts and motives and refine our faith like gold tested in fire. 

Warren reminds us that there’s nothing wrong with us during these seasons. That this is a normal part of testing and maturing our friendship with God. Every Christian goes through it. While it is painful and disconcerting, it is absolutely vital for the development of our faith. 

I’m learning that the goal isn’t to avoid these “dark nights of the soul” but to navigate them faithfully. They are not evidence of God’s absence but of His commitment to our spiritual maturity. In these seasons, we learn that our faith must be built on the solid foundation of God’s character and promise rather than on the shifting sands of our emotions and circumstances. 

Holding Hope in the Hiding

As I continue to wrestle with my own seasons of spiritual dryness, I’m finding hope in the truth that God is real, no matter how I feel. As He promised in Hebrews 13:5, “ I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” His presence is not dependent on my perception, His love is not contingent on my emotions, and His purposes for my life are not thwarted by my temporary inability to sense His nearness. In the darkness, I’m learning to hold to what  I know to be true about God, trusting that He is using even this season to draw me deeper into authentic, mature faith. 

“The dark night of the soul,” as difficult as it is, may be one of faith’s greatest gifts, stripping away everything superficial and leaving us with the bedrock truth of who God is and who we are in Him. 

This reflection is part of my 40-day journey through The Purpose Driven Life. You can explore the full series here → Purpose Driven Life Hub