Rather than listening to the doubts and complaints that flood our brains, we must learn to express the truth to ourselves. “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name,” David said in Psalm 103:1-2. Praise the LORD, my soul, and remember all of his blessings.” David reminded himself to thank God and to remember all of God's benefits. To ourselves, we must affirm God's truth. As a Christian, for example, God has promised that nothing will be able to separate me from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).
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Reasons for Spiritual Dryness
There are a variety of reasons why spiritual dryness develops in us, including the following:
- Tragedy and adversity can sap your hope and put your faith to the test, leaving you vulnerable.
- It's possible that your attention has changed from relationships to law. In other words, your performance takes precedence over your relationship with God.
- You are not maintaining your relationship with God. Perhaps your life has become so busy that you have forgotten the value of spending time with God.
- You are believing a falsehood and are in desperate need of God's truth to set you free. Your perception of yourself and God is tainted by deception.
Overcoming Spiritual Dryness
So, how can we get through spiritual dry spells in the wilderness? We need to reset our thoughts and reconnect with our first love. An intimate relationship with God provides spiritual nutrition. We will discover biblical principles to rejuvenate the mind and spiritual methods to re-establish intimacy with God in the next three articles.
God is a Good and Loving Father
Life's challenges can wear us down and erode our faith, leaving us vulnerable to accepting lies about God's genuine character. I believe we are always in need of a greater understanding of God as a good and loving Father. If we don't believe God is good and loving, but rather regard Him as a vengeful, temperamental, unloving, and inconsistent Father, God will appear unapproachable and untrustworthy. Spiritual dryness is fueled by the illusions we think about who God is, which generate distance and distrust. How do we know what kind of Father we have? Abba Father adores you and is relentless in his pursuit of you. He hears and responds to your cries. He stands up for you. Father God blesses His children with wonderful gifts. He is the source of all good and flawless gifts. He has more positive ideas about you than sand grains. Abba delights in you and sings joyful songs over you. He will never desert you since he is constantly with you. He does not withhold anything good from you because He is a generous Father who gave us His own Son. Because Jesus came to symbolize the Father, you can see the Father's kindness in Jesus. Accepting these truths will serve as your compass in the wilderness. Even if you don't believe these declarations are genuine, it's vital to think about them and say them to yourself until they become reality. Because God's word is supernatural, the Holy Spirit will reveal these truths to you when you read His promises.
You are a Son or Daughter of God
We can be perplexed about our identity, especially during wilderness seasons. Perhaps you've lost your job and are now feeling aimless. Maybe you've been in a relationship that ended in a breakup and you're feeling rejected. Whatever the difficulty, spiritual dryness sets in when you look at yourself without seeing yourself through God's eyes. Because of their unworthiness and shame, people may assume a false identity. Your sentiments, performance, failures, circumstances, pain, sins, people's judgments of you, and so on can all be used to define a false identity. Every aspect of your life is influenced by your identity, including how you see yourself, your relationships, and your purpose.
Humanity has pondered this topic for millennia “Who am I?” has been a question since the beginning of time. Only the Creator, however, is aware of your true identity. Receiving a new insight of your identity in Christ liberates you to be the true authentic self that God created you to be. You are first and foremost His kid. What exactly does that imply? You are a valuable and one-of-a-kind individual. You are loved, admired, pursued, known, favored, chosen, delighted in, gifted, strong, prized, powerful, free, and forgiven. We no longer struggle to earn God's acceptance and affection when we embrace Sonship because we know we already have it. Because He loves you so much, you are enough and worthy. You may find it difficult to see yourself through God's eyes, but you can choose to trust His words over your own negative picture. Allow God to define you, and your spiritual life will be re-energized. Start by telling yourself, “I'm going to choose to believe and live what you say.
Christian Counseling to Overcome Spiritual Dryness
Are you putting restrictions on God? Are you underestimating your own abilities? It is sometimes the wilderness seasons of life that cause us to look within and seek Him. God is using this season to reveal the truth about who He is and who you are. He does this because your ability to connect with God is determined by how you see Him and yourself. A healthy connection involves a comprehensive understanding of both yourself and the other person. How can you have a solid link with your spouse, for example, if you don't know who you are and are unsure who they are? Accepting your identity in Christ and knowing God as a good and loving Father are essential facts. They are available to you to discover at any time during your life. God's majesty has no bounds. So plunge in and keep learning about how great, long, deep, and high His love for you is. He wants to continue to disclose to you more about your identity, destiny, gifts, and abilities. As a Christian counselor, I believe that therapy may provide a secure environment for you to express your spiritual difficulties. I'd be delighted to assist you as we search for lamps of hope in the wilderness to aid in illuminating your journey. Please contact us if you want to learn more about Christian therapy.
How can I regain my spiritual life?
What does it mean to resurrect? Simply expressed, it means “to restore the functionality or validity of anything.” So, what about your spirit has become inactive or has lost its validity? Here's a simple test to see if you're ready: Do you find yourself ruminating on minor irritations in your daily life? Do you have a hard time recalling the last time you felt truly happy?
It's possible that your inner spirit requires a “waking,” and spring is an excellent time to assess your situation and take steps toward a more positive, anxiety-free outlook!
Here are three suggestions to help you rekindle your spirit, as well as “5 Inspiring Quotes” from our Cancer Fighters members to get you started.
1. Work on your core
Our entire being is conditioned to perform better emotionally, mentally, and physically when we focus on growing our spirit, the core of who we are. Some exercises to build your spiritual core may include the following, depending on your personal interests:
Any action that brings you closer to rather than further away from your thoughts and feelings might help you live more cheerfully in the present moment. These activities are referred to as “mindfulness” by some specialists. Mindfulness has been shown to increase overall mood, boost emotional, physical, and social well-being, and reduce anxiety, despair, and rage, according to several studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Percy McCray, Jr., Director of Faith-Based Programs at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), warns what can happen if we don't take the time to build our spiritual health in his blog, Revive Yourself, Your Spirit, and Your Health.
“It's critical to take a breath and reflect. If we don't, we'll waste our time shopping, eating, drinking, and socializing in vain attempts to resurrect our spirits.” “Instead of re-energizing us, these pleasures might leave us feeling languid and aimless,” explains Rev. Percy. Every human, however, has a thirst, hunger, and yearning for true meaning, value, and purpose in life.
2. Re-establish (or re-establish) healthy relationships
Living with cancer provides many people a new perspective, one that prioritizes relationships over all else. Given the stress of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, it's not unexpected that problems in relationships, particularly between couples, occur frequently. “Fight the cancer, not each other,” says Michael Uhl, MA, MDiv, LMFT, a Mind-Body Therapist at CTCA in Zion, Illinois. He suggests the following ideas for constructing a house:
- Maintain open channels of communication and draw on previous expertise. Whenever a crisis occurs, make an effort to improve communication. Mutual understanding, not necessarily agreement, should be the goal. It may be painful to discuss feelings, yet it is unshared feelings that cause relationships to suffer.
- Make sure you have a strong support system in place. Bringing friends and other family members on board might provide a much-needed reprieve from caregiving obligations, even if your partner is ready to do it all. Both patients and caregivers require “down time” to manage the plethora of experiences and emotions that accompany cancer treatment, recovery, and survivorship.
- Speak with a therapist who has experience with cancer. Speaking with an unbiased therapist who has worked with other cancer patients can assist couples in expressing their emotions and confirming that the sentiments they are experiencing are normal. Discussing all of the emotionsfear, anger, and griefeither together or separately brings them to the surface and aids in the development of useful coping mechanisms.
Relationships with people you care about a spouse, family, or close friends and doing things you both enjoy are stimulating. They have a regenerating and restoring effect.
3. Control Your Thoughts
What do you think about when you're not working? It's only normal for people to inquire “When confronted with a catastrophic sickness, one would wonder, “Why me?” Focusing on this question, on the other hand, can leave you feeling stuck and frustrated. Focusing your thoughts on things that give you hope, on the other hand, might make you feel empowered and revitalize your spirit.
We invited members of our Cancer Fighters group, many of whom are cancer survivors, to provide encouraging remarks “It lifts their spirits.” The following are five of them “To motivate you, here are some “Inspiring Quotes”:
“According to Ardua.”
This Latin phrase translates to “The McIntyre family motto is “despite trials.” Richard A. McIntyre, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, shared this.
“God is in control of the cancer; the cancer is not in control of me!” Viola Jones of Olathe, Kansas, shared this.
David Brown and Kathy Mosley, a patient and caregiver from Fairbanks, Alaska, believe one of Baha'u'llah's Baha'i prayers in the Baha'i Prayer book brings them much comfort and peace:
“O my God, memory of Thee is my remedy, and Thy name is my mending.
My aim is to be near Thee, and my companion is love for Thee.
Thy mercy to me is my salvation and healing in both this world and the next.
“Truly, you are the All-Abundant, the All-Knowing, and the All-Wise.”
Kimalea Conrad, a cancer survivor from Telluride, Colorado, says Bible verses inspire her; one of her favorites is the one below. “To me, this verse signifies that cancer has no ability to make me terrified unless I allow it,” Conrad explains.
“God did not give us a fearful spirit, but a spirit of strength, love, and self-control.” Revelation 2:7
Surviving cancer typically demands a heroic amount of physical, mental, and spiritual courage, as any survivor or caregiver knows. “Rev. Percy believes that connecting to a greater source of power can bring that balance, stability, and grounding. “Many of us overlook the most obvious sources of meaning, worth, and purpose: service, forgiveness, hope, peace, and faith. Connecting to these global forces of empowerment is, in many ways, the simplest method to rekindle our spirit.”
What does God say about emptiness?
Symptoms of empty spirits include empty bellies, empty lifestyles, empty dreams, and empty motivation. While emptiness is unpleasant, it may also be a benefit if it is dealt with wisely. Even though everything around us stays in empty, emptiness is a wake-up call to go to God, who is the only One who can change emptiness into fullness and fill us with His fullness and blessing.
How can I be awakened spiritually?
The spiritual journeyand the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seekalways appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.
Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?
From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.
What is spiritual thirst?
Jesus mentions our spirits in the Bible several times, emphasizing the significance of giving them “living water” and “food of life.” This can be a little perplexing or strange at times! How is it possible for water to be alive? Is it possible for bread to be alive? And how do we ‘fuel' our spirits in the first place?
‘Jesus replied to her, “If you had known God's gift and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him for live water and he would have given it to you…
Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, but everyone who drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty again “‘John 4:10-14' –
As Christians, we believe that everyone of us is endowed with a spirit that defines who we are. Our thinking, loving, doing, and being are all influenced by this spirit. We think that our spirits, like our physical bodies, require nourishment. When someone talks about being spiritually ‘fed,' ‘watered,' ‘hungry,' or ‘thirsty,' they are talking to the feeding of their spirits.
What is spiritual water?
‘Whoever believes in me, rivers of life water will flow from within them,' Scripture says. He was referring to the Spirit, which those who believed in him would receive later. Because Jesus had not yet been glorified, the Spirit had not yet been delivered.' 7:38-39 – John 7:38-39
To understand what'spiritual hunger' entails, we must first comprehend what'spiritual water' entails.
‘Living water,' as described in the Book of John, is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, a member of the Christian triune God. We receive the Holy Spirit when we put our faith in Jesus. This indicates the formation of a new relationship. The Holy Spirit honors the bond we make with Christ by abiding in our spirits and bringing fresh life to us.
‘As a result of God's mercy, I implore you, brothers, to give your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship service.' Don't be conformed to this world, but be renewed in your mind. Then you'll be able to determine what God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect.' – 1 Corinthians 12:1-2
The Holy Spirit contrasts and supersedes our own spirit, which informs our thinking, loving, doing, and being – imperfectly and sinfully – by giving perfection to our thinking, loving, doing, and being. This is what it's like to be like Jesus.
‘A mentality ruled by the flesh is death; a mind ruled by the Spirit is life and peace.' 8:6 – Romans
What is spiritual thirst?
‘Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied,' says the Bible. 5:6 (Matthew)
Spiritual Thirst: In our innermost essence, the Bible compares us to a well. Wells fill up and flow upward and outward from the source. Wells are overflowing. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, life comes out of us in the same way. The more we want to be filled by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, the more we will yearn for God and more revelation of God's character. This is referred to as a ‘thirst.'
We shall be more motivated in love toward God and others as we continue to be transformed by the Holy Spirit's renewing of our minds and behaviors.
When we become'spiritually thirsty,' we want for the Holy Spirit to act in our souls, our hearts yearn for communication with God, and our conscience tells us we must seek God's will.
While being ‘thirsty' in this sense is a good thing, being thirsty and not being able to quench it is not. It quickly devolves into deprivation, which then leads to dehydration. When our physical bodies do not obtain enough water, we experience undesirable symptoms such as a dry mouth, thick tongue, achy head, and weak muscles.
Spiritually, we will experience spiritual symptoms of deprivation if we do not receive the amount of ‘life water' that our spirits require. You'll notice yourself losing your temper, feeling waves of concern, and a buildup of guilt, selfishness, and fear if you don't spend time being filled and transformed by the Holy Spirit.
What is spiritual bread?
“I tell you the truth, Moses did not give you bread from heaven,” Jesus said. It was my Father who accomplished it. Now he presents you with the genuine bread of paradise. God's actual bread is the one who descends from heaven and breathes life into the world.” “Sir, give us the bread every day,” they said. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus replied. – John 6:32-35
‘I am the living bread who descended from heaven.' Anyone who eats this bread will live indefinitely. This is my flesh, which I shall give for the sake of the world's survival.' 6:51 – John
Jesus is referred to in the Bible as both the “Word of God” and the “Bread of Life,” reflecting some of the mystery and beauty in God's unity. The word “bread” in the Bible refers to “that which is absorbed into the body and provides nutrition.”
Spiritual bread is the sustenance that enters into our eyes and ears. The Bible mentions two types of bread: leavened and unleavened.
‘Get rid of the old yeast so you can pretend to be a new unleavened batch.' Our Passover lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. As a result, let us celebrate the Festival with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, rather than the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness.' 5:6-8 – 1 Corinthians
Bread Leavened with Malice and Wickedness: ‘Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with old bread leavened with malice and wickedness…'
In the Bible, leaven (a yeast that causes things to rise) is frequently used to represent the corruption of sin. Sin, like yeast in a dough batter, spreads throughout the body, causing the entire batch to alter and distort. If we are to nurture our souls with ‘leavened bread,' this may mean consuming violent, sexual, or unedifying literature, movies, thoughts, or speech with our eyes and ears.
This type of bread comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from sinful and unhealthy to evil and toxic.
This is the kind of spiritual bread we're supposed to eat and be like as Christians. When we seek authenticity and truth in the things we read, watch, and think about, we are choosing the nutritious Bread of Life. Reading the Bible (the Bread of Life for the Spirit), listening to Christian music, watching wholesome movies, and choosing to talk in a way that honors rather than degrades people are all examples of this.
We know we can trust the Bible to be a storehouse of God's spiritual sustenance and nourishment as Matthew 4:4 says that we should live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God's mouth. It is a trustworthy witness to God's teachings, and the Holy Spirit will teach us how to read and digest it so that we can be changed for the better.
A Christian has the option of choosing which spiritual nourishment to consume and which bread to be. Which one do you prefer?
What is spiritual hunger?
You might be wondering what the difference is between spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst. I like to think of it this way: you want water when you're thirsty, but you need food when you're hungry.
Spiritual hunger:The Bible refers to the Word of God as the bread of life, as we explored. When we are spiritually hungry, we yearn for more of God's Word.
I accepted Christianity without hesitation when I became a new Christian around 33 years ago since it was the way I was raised. When I approached 40, I began to consider what the Bible says and how orthodox Christianity is practiced. I wanted to know what God wanted me to do for salvation and to grow in Christlikeness because I desire to follow God to the best of my ability. I don't mind going against the grain if it means I'll be able to stand before God at the end of my life and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
I had a lot of questions, and I needed to find answers in God's Word. This heightened my spiritual thirst for God's Word to the point where I consumed the Bible in order to gain a better understanding of all the areas in which I had doubts. It was the source of my newfound spiritual zeal for God's Word. I pray I never lose my desire to read God's Word, and that I never stop learning about His ways and what He expects of me.
Spiritual starvation is similar to physical hunger in that the longer you go without food, the less hungry you become. You then go into famine mode without noticing it. Spiritual malnutrition manifests itself as a lack of desire for God's Word. Perhaps you are spiritually starving if you have no hunger for God's word or no interest in reading the Bible. Come to Jesus and beg God to restore your spiritual hunger so that you might once again consume spiritual bread.
Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness
Have you ever felt like you know everything there is to know about God? Have you ever felt as if you'd had enough of his presence? Have you ever doubted his authority?
That's when you'll know you've lost your spiritual hunger and thirst. That's not going to happen! Only those who have the spiritual appetite to hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied, according to Jesus. The Holy Spirit's infilling and the growth of spiritual gifts and fruit provide such satisfaction (1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:23-23).
Our yearning for righteousness grows as we hear God's word spoken. Hearing is how Christ applies his word to hungry and thirsty souls with strength; if we are serious about holiness, we should desire to be convicted by God's preached word.
‘Because God's word is alive and active. It divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, sharper than any double-edged blade.' 4:12 (Hebrews)
We should desire to be “wounded” by the Spirit's sword, allowing the Holy Spirit to penetrate and identify and deal with our sins. We should pay great attention to God's voice and pray for it to pierce our hearts so that we can be conformed to our Savior's likeness. As we read the Bible, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will use it to regenerate our thoughts.
‘A young student approached his Rabbi and inquired, ‘Master, how may I truly find God?' The Rabbi encouraged the student to follow him to the village's river, where he may jump into the water.
‘Please immerse yourself in the water,' the Rabbi remarked when they reached the middle of the stream. When the student obeyed, the Rabbi placed his hands on the young man's head and dragged him under the water! The student began to struggle at this point. The Rabbi suffocated him for a while longer. After a little period, the pupil was thrashing and pounding the water out of the air with his arms!
Despite this, the Rabbi kept him submerged. Finally, the student was freed from the water and sprung to his feet, his lungs throbbing and screaming for oxygen. ‘When you seek God as much as you desire to breathe the air you just breathed – then you shall find God,' the Rabbi replied after a few moments of silence.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty – John 6:35
To hunger and thirst for righteousness means that our innermost desire is to be like Jesus Christ in every way. We shall be walking in the power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. We shall see things with new eyes and make decisions based on faith rather than sight.
Prayer and study of God's Word, the Bread of Life, will keep the lines of contact with God open. We shall be refilled with the Holy Spirit's live water, revealing God's new life in us and allowing us to operate in a new way. We will be literally resurrected, like someone who has been stuck in the desert for days and eventually receives food and water. It may take some time to acclimate, but they gradually develop a new persona!
Instead of displaying our own character, we are now displaying Christ to the world. We will have our prayers heard by God, and we will walk in trust with bravery, and we will be able to witness everything that God has done. We are now nourished on a daily basis with the eternal bread and water.
Nothing will have a greater impact on your life than a burning desire to be holy like Jesus Christ. Let us all hunger and thirst for righteousness, and rejoice in the promise that God will satisfy our hunger and need and that we shall never be hungry or thirsty again.
Why is apathy a sin?
Apathy has long been denounced by Christians as a lack of love and devotion to God and his efforts. This version of indifference is known as Sloth, and it is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The phrase was coined by Clemens Alexandrinus to refer to Christian thinkers who aspired to virtue.
After World War I, when it was one of the several manifestations of “shell shock,” the current idea of apathy became more well-known. When soldiers returned from combat, many developed a sense of detached numbness and apathy to normal social interaction after living in trenches under bombing and machine gun fire, and seeing battlefields strewn with dead and crippled companions.
John Dos Passos, a novelist from the United States, stated in 1950: “Apathy is one of the typical responses of any living creature when confronted with sensations that are too intense or complex to cope with. Comprehension is the antidote to apathy.”
What is the spirit of indifference?
What does it mean to be unconcerned? To be indifferent about an issue means that it makes no difference which way you look at it; one method isn't more valuable or important than the other. There is a lack of excitement, concern, or interest in something or someone.
From time to time, we're all ambivalent about certain issues. For lunch, do we want chicken or hamburgers? So, if we like both, we'll say it doesn't make a difference. Would we rather go shopping today or tomorrow? It doesn't seem to make a difference.
These are only a few examples of indifferent attitudes that have minimal impact. Today's lesson emphasizes the significance of paying attention to the things that really important.
So, once again, we refer to J. Kalas Ellsworth's ideas and thoughts in his work “We use the Roman soldiers as examples of the mistake of being indifferent at a time when full attention was required in “Seven Words To The Cross: A Lenten Study For Adults,” as we use them as examples of the mistake of being indifferent at a time when full attention was required.
In the words and acts of the soldiers assigned to Jesus' execution in John 19: 23-27, we find an attitude of indifference. For whatever reason, they were unconcerned with an occurrence that was undoubtedly routine for them.
The things of Jesus, namely the pieces of clothes, were their primary concern for the afternoon. They were particularly interested in acquiring his garment, which would have been expensive due to the lack of seams and sewn-together areas.
But, while they were preoccupied with the tunic, Jesus was dying on the cross directly above them. However, we observe complete disregard for anything or anyone other than their own interests.
I invite each of us to dig deep within ourselves throughout Lent and beyond to discover if we have any apathy toward others or, more significantly, toward God.
These Roman soldiers were not only harsh and callous, but also thoughtless. Can we think about the apathy we have as a culture toward other people's feelings while we consider these troops' insensitivity to pain and suffering?
We may not become willfully nasty and brutal, but we may just become oblivious to the sorrow that surrounds us.
Our spiritual journey might sometimes be marred by indifference. It can happen when we hear the Holy Spirit's voice but are too preoccupied to respond. It might happen when we are too preoccupied with our own concerns to hear our brothers and sisters' cries.
It might happen when we are guilty of wrongdoings in our life but do not change our ways. The Holy Spirit's voice, the screams of the poor, and personal convictions are becoming less and less frequent.
We tend to lose touch with the personal call that God has put on our hearts, and our vision isn't as clear as it once was.
Could it be that we've removed our hands off Jesus's and replaced our passion for following him with apathy? If that's the case, it's easy to see ourselves rolling the dice at the foot of the cross.
It's possible that we've heard God's call on our lives; we understand how important it is to treat others as Jesus did, but we're simply too preoccupied. Preoccupation can quickly develop into indifference if we are not careful.
God is the one who keeps trying to break into our life, banging on the door of our busyness, and we keep shutting him out.
We are not violent or unkind; we simply have other things on our minds. We're attempting to figure out how to deal with the situation “We can wear “tunics” without shredding them in our life.
This scenario in front of the cross has a certain irony to it. You may recall that a woman was healed after touching the hem of Jesus' robe a few months ago (Luke 8:43-48). The soldiers were now wearing the same outfit.
We know the piece of fabric didn't contain any magic. However, I'm curious if any of those guys required physical healing that day, either for themselves or for someone back home.
How close they were to the source of all healing, to the One who had come to mend the brokenness, to cast out the darkness, to provide peace, and to build an eternal relationship!
How do I fill my spiritual emptiness?
When I don't allow myself to experience my emotions – both good and negative and when I'm spiritually disconnected, I feel empty. However, the source of your emptiness could be very different.
Consider the reasons of emptiness listed above for a few moments. Consider the following questions: “Examine each of the points to see why you're feeling empty. Which one speaks to you the most? Keep in mind that you could be feeling empty for any of the three causes.
You could be wondering what to do now “Okay, I'm feeling a little empty… but what's the solution?”
Establish your own spiritual practice
Connecting with your spirit isn't a one-time, fanciful experience. It's a serious thing to do. It is a lifelong commitment that should be made on a daily basis. To enjoy the best rewards, you must make an effort to introspect and gaze inwards every day. And when I say benefits, I'm referring to everything from minor perks to paradigm-shifting, mind-blowing mystical encounters.
This website is chock-full of ideas for connecting with your soul, but here's a good place to start. Dream work, shadow work, inner child work, journaling, the I Ching and oracle/tarot cards, self-love, meditation, spirit guide contact, and prayer are all part of my present spiritual practice (but my practice often morphs and changes).
I recommend that you begin by trying with various practices that you are comfortable with. This could include anything from traditional spiritual activities to more esoteric ones. The essential point is that you should investigate how “soul” feels. If you're in severe need of this connection, I propose locating an authentic/trustworthy shaman in your area (or abroad) who can lead you on a spirit quest using plant medicine. Sacred doorways into the realm of soul and spirit can be found in plants like psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, san pedro, and ayahuasca.
Seek relentlessly for self-fulfillment
Begin looking for things that will complete you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. This will necessitate you looking inwardly and potentially disregarding everything everyone has ever told you about who you “should” be.
Self-fulfillment is entirely personal, and no one can throw it to you on a silver platter. You must discover what lights your soul on fire and makes your heart sing. YOU must take the steps, set the objectives, and put in the work because if you don't, you will feel empty and unfulfilled.
Remember that your fate is in your hands, and you will likely feel lot better once you begin to take control of your life.
Allow and embrace your emotions
Feeling our emotions and actively accepting them goes against everything we've been taught since we were children.
Because of their terrible force, emotions like rage and sadness are rejected and dreaded in particular. Sports, alcohol binges, workaholism, or relationship problems are common ways for such feelings to be buried and vented.
Catharsis is a strong and healthy means of letting your emotions out. When done in a secure and private setting, catharsis is extremely empowering. Catharsis can take many forms, including vigorous exercise, yelling, dancing, laughing, and crying. Because I suffer with buried sadness and wrath, I enjoy sobbing and punching catharsis.
Art therapy and journaling are two more passive kinds of catharsis (check out our self-love journal.) In my book “Awakened Empath,” I also discuss a technique known as SOAR, which allows you to feel and regulate strong emotions. (Some instances of SOAR in action can be found on our YouTube channel.)
Our emotions are not here to be “fixed” or “treated,” as I must emphasize. You will never be able to be free of wrath, envy, or grief for the rest of your life. These feelings are natural and part of the human condition. We can learn to let them flow through us without grasping at them or dramatizing them. Feeling empty will no longer be an issue for you once all emotions are allowed to dance through you, for life will become lively again.
Create your own support network
You're a fascinating creature. This is a unique combination. You're capable of both lovely dreams and terrifying horrors. You feel lost, shut off, and alone, but you aren't. After all, the only thing we've discovered that makes the nothingness bearable is each other.
We are not islands, no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves differently. We are born with the desire to interact with others. To be emotionally and psychologically healthy, we require some form of social contact, care, and support.
Seeking out others is one of the most effective strategies to stop feeling empty. Seek out others who share your feelings and/or are dealing with comparable issues. Recognizing that much of what you're going through is a shared human experience has the ability to relieve you of a lot of pain.
There are always support groups online if you don't have somebody in your life right now. You can also go through your local community publication to see if there are any communities you might be interested in joining. If you really need someone to hold space for you, there are free assistance networks like 7cups online, or you might seek out to a therapist/counselor.
Create a solid sense of self
This may sound strange, but I believe that having a low self-esteem can both cause and result in feeling empty.
We drift through life without a stable ego, tossed here and there with no sense of firmness or wholeness. It is critical that we all have a solid ego since we cannot function properly in this world without it.
As a result, having a shaky sense of self is akin to being a vagrant with nowhere to go and feeling empty is a common result. In terms of psychology, we must emulate the lowly snail, which carries its shell (ego) about as a form of protection and shelter.
In the past, I've written more about how to build a stronger sense of self (you can explore that more in-depth if you like). But, for the time being, here are some ideas:
How do you pray when you feel empty?
I'm lonely, Heavenly Father, and I need your comfort. Help me realize that even when others don't, you notice me. Please stick with me as I go through this ordeal. Help me comprehend that I'm going through this for a reason, and that you'll be there to support me; that I'll be able to overcome this because you're with me. Amen, in Jesus' name.
Thank you, Lord, for your kindness and grace. Thank you for reminding me that I don't have to be afraid because you're beside me. Assist me in overcoming my negative thoughts and anxiety of being alone. I'm sure your presence gives calm in the midst of the storm. Thank you for being there for me through this difficult time. Amen, in Jesus' name.
Greetings, Jesus! I beseech you to investigate my heart. Check to see if I have any nefarious tendencies. Please bring it to my attention so that I can correct it in front of you. Thank you for your understanding. Despite the fact that I believe you are far away, I choose to believe in your promise that nothing will be able to separate me from your love; that you are on my side, not against me. Today, please assist me in walking in the assurance of that promise. Amen.
Thank you, God, that you haven't forgotten about me and will never forget about me. I'll admit that I've been doubting your goodness and not trusting you. In your truth, renew my heart and intellect. In my heart, I implore you to continue your healing work. Repair the damage. Give me the strength to confront today's problems, knowing that you will not desert me. Amen, in Jesus' name.
Father, Right now, I'm feeling lonely. You promised you'd never let me down or abandon me. Lord, I believe in you, but please help me overcome my skepticism. Please come immediately and be near me. Allow me to sense your presence and tranquility. I invite you to come into my life and relieve me of my loneliness. I appreciate your assurance of your loyalty. I am in awe of your devotion to me. Amen, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lord, I feel vulnerable, bewildered, terrified, and alone, as if there is no one I can truly trust or rely on. Thank you for reminding me that every word you say is correct. I come to you today humbly requesting your protection from those who wish to hurt others, as well as from my own negative ideas. Protect me from the lies of my foes. Only truth should fill my heart and mind. Amen, in Jesus' name.
Greetings, God! I feel alone, yet I know you are there with me through it all. Please instill hope in my mind. I appreciate your word's assurance that your hand will guide me. I can lean on Your strength when I am weak. Help me to accomplish that today; help me to see past my circumstances and believe you when you say you will. Amen, in Jesus' name.
I'm asking for your assistance right now, Heavenly Father. Teach me not to be concerned. Please remind me not to be worried. ‘Don't worry about anything, pray about everything,' says your word. And I'll tell you what I require.' Thank you, God, for your provision. Thank you for the assurances of our presence that your word contains. Please provide the calm and comfort of your presence to my situation. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.