Overcoming Spiritual Droughts

Text: Exodus 15:19–27

The Christian life isn’t one big spiritual high. Sometimes it’s more like a spiritual “dry.” Do you ever feel you have little to give, little joy in going to church, little desire to serve? Do you ever find yourself doubting like Thomas, suffering like Job, feeling busy and distracted like Martha? Do you ever long to feel close to God again, like the psalmist who sang, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1)?

I have had many some high Days and some Dry Day.

How can we handle our spiritual droughts? Just as the Israelites began wandering in the wilderness on their way to the promised land, they went through a dry time. We can learn some lessons from them about how to deal with our own spiritual dry spells.

I. DON’T FORGET WHAT GOD DID FOR YOU IN THE PAST (vv. 19–22).

A. God had parted the Red Sea and thwarted the Egyptian army’s pursuit (v. 19). Moses’ sister Miriam (who was about 90 years old by now, but still had some vitality!) led thousands of women in a spirited song of praise to the Lord (vv. 20, 21). The people were filled with joy!

B. But if the Israelites thought they’d sing and dance all the way to the Promised Land, they were wrong. Almost immediately, they traveled three days in the desert without finding water (v. 22). No doubt they had carried some water with them from Egypt; but now in the heat of the desert, accompanied by families with little children and livestock to feed and water, intense joy quickly gave way to intense hardship. The thrill of following God was swallowed up by the dry desert of daily survival. Often our toughest trials come soon after our biggest victories. (For example, immediately after Jesus was baptized, he went into the wilderness of temptation.) During the dry times, we need to recall God’s faithfulness to us in the past.

II. DON’T MAGNIFY YOUR PRESENT PROBLEMS (vv. 23, 24).

A. The water at Marah was bitter (vv. 23, 24). Evidently, it was filled with bad-tasting minerals. But at least it was water! If it means survival, a thirsty man will drink almost anything. I worked at a church camp where the drinking water tasted like sulfur. The campers called it “egg-water.” But on a hot summer day, that bad-tasting water was better than nothing!

B. The Israelites were magnifying their problems and making them appear bigger than they really were. Likewise, we sometimes wallow in self-pity, exaggerate our hardships, and overlook our blessings. (Compare Hebrews 12:4.)

III. DON’T OVERLOOK GOD’S SOLUTIONS (vv. 25, 26).

A. The Lord provided a miraculous water softener! When Moses threw a piece of wood into the water, the water became sweet (v. 25). The Israelites’ thirst tested their faith, but it also introduced them to some solutions if they would heed God’s “decree and law.”

B. Even in “dry” times:

1. You can pray. “Moses cried out to the Lord” (v. 25). God’s Spirit helps when we don’t know what to say (Romans 8:26, 27).

2. You can obey. “If you listen carefully … and do what is right” (v. 26). When you’re in a spiritual drought, don’t give into temptation and do foolish things you’ll later regret. Don’t cheat on your spouse, desert your kids, squander your money, quit your job, give up on church, or throw away your faith.

3. You can rely on God’s goodness. “For I am the Lord, who heals you.”

IV. DON’T GIVE UP TOO SOON (v. 27).

A. Soon the Israelites left a bitter place and moved to a better place. Elim sounds like a Florida beach, complete with 12 springs and 70 palm trees (v. 27)—a refreshing place to rest and drink. Remarkably, Elim was only about a day’s journey from Marah on foot. The people felt discouraged and bitter, but God’s remedy was only one day away!

B. When you feel like you’re at the end of your rope, your friends have let you down, your family has disappointed you, and you wonder if it’s worth it all, you can still find strength in Jesus who said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).

ILLUSTRATIONS

The party’s over. On our daughter Mindy’s thirteenth birthday, our family acquired a Cocker Spaniel named Herby. My daughter Mindy greeted the dog with great enthusiasm. It was fun to romp and play with a brand new puppy. But after a few days, Mindy realized dog ownership has its responsibilities as well as its privileges. The joy of playing with Herby diminished with the daily feedings, walks, and clean-ups, and occasional trips to the vet. Though we’d like for life to be a pleasant romp, it’s often difficult. We need faith that’s tough enough to endure even when the fun is gone.

Abundant life. After Saturday Night Live comedian John Belushi died of a drug overdose, one of his friends explained, “John always believed in living his life to the fullest.” Could anyone really believe that the kind of wild partying that led to Belushi’s tragic death was “living life to the fullest”? Jesus gives abundant life (John 10:10). Don’t settle for a substitute—especially a deadly one.[1]

[1]David Faust, Life of Moses: Blueprints for 30 Messages Built upon God’s Word, ed. Jim Eichenberger, Solid Foundation Sermon Starters (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2000), 39–40.