A relationship with Christ can bring growth, purpose and a deeper understanding of faith. Throughout that journey, believers may experience different seasons that shape the way they trust God and grow spiritually.
Different seasons of faith can shape a Christian’s walk with the Lord in various ways. At times, believers may find themselves seeking renewed motivation, deeper connection with God or greater trust during difficult circumstances.
Those seasons can feel isolating, especially when it seems as though everyone else is growing in their faith.
Dr. Jeff Cate, professor of New Testament, reflected on how Christians can respond when their faith feels dry.
“My biggest recommendation is to maintain spiritual disciplines. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t feel like you’re alone in the midst of it,” Cate said.
Community can become an important source of encouragement during those seasons, particularly when believers are surrounded by others who understand similar struggles.
Annelyse Caraos, junior music for worship arts and ministry major, reflected on her own experience during a dry season of faith.
“Since I was a music for worship arts and ministry major, I was surrounded by a lot of people who were very much strong in their faith,” Caraos said.
Over time, those relationships influenced the way Caraos approached her own spiritual disciplines.
“So what I did is I would spend time around those people, but what God would do is He would use those people to just encourage me and edify me… I started to not do spiritual disciplines just to be disciplined but out of overflow of wanting to love Him more,” Caraos said.
Caraos’ experience shows how encouragement from others can provide support when someone feels spiritually discouraged or uncertain.
Sierra Lemen, sophomore applied theology major, reflected on the role consistency can play during similar seasons.
“I would say just keep doing it and then the feelings can usually be cultivated through that,” Lemen said. “But also just pray for those desires to come back.”
Maintaining spiritual practices may feel difficult when motivation is low, but Christians can continue seeking God through prayer, Scripture, church and community even when those practices do not immediately feel meaningful.
Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages believers to trust God during uncertain seasons: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (ESV).
Dry seasons may bring uncertainty, frustration or doubt, but they do not have to be faced alone. Through spiritual disciplines, community and continued trust in God, believers can remain rooted in their faith even when growth is difficult to see.
