Could it be that the spiritually dry seasons are not our fault, but God’s choice? I’m of the belief that man, in his own deluded selfishness, would never pursue God by his own volition. I believe salvation is a gift, and not something to be acquired. It seems logical, then, that nearness to God is also a gift. If we cannot earn salvation, how could we earn sanctification?
If God-experiences, profound insights, and holy moments of God’s presence are gifts, then we can claim no credit when they occur. Just as we cannot tease the sun to emerge from the eastern horizon, we cannot bait God. And the adverse is also true: dry seasons are not our fault. God is responsible for the harvest, we are only called to abide in Him (see John 15). If we are being faithful laborers and the season does not bring the sweet fruit of God’s holy presence, then it is a logical assumption that God is choosing to withhold His felt manifestation for a time, a dry season.
Burnout is often an indication that a ministry leader has fallen victim to Satan’s great lie: that we can earn anything with God. When we are dry, we pastors tend to work harder, study more, pray incessantly, and dive deeper into the disciplines of the faith. What if we faced the dryness instead of fleeing from it? If God is at work in the dryness then an act of worship would be an embracing of this season in honor of its Source. Our theology tells us that God is near, but He’s choosing to be cloaked; perhaps resting in the ambiguity instead of wishing it away will bring us peace.
“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27)
Burned Out Pastor 