“I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish” (Ezekiel 17:24).

Generally speaking, we do not like hardship. We try to avoid it. 

But if we’re being honest, I think that most of us can look back on certain hardships from our past and see how some good was able to come out of them.

Richard Foster has written a lot about different spiritual practices, including prayer. He is one of those wise voices who has studied the ways of Jesus and helped thousands of people—probably millions—become more spiritually attuned to the rhythms of the footsteps of Jesus.

In a book about prayer, he said this: “Through the barrenness of soul God is producing detachment, humility, patience, perseverance.”*

That’s serious stuff. “Barrenness of soul” is way of talking about those seasons in life when we feel spiritually drained or empty. It can even be hard to pray. 

But even though we can’t see anything good, God can still do good. He can use “barrenness of soul” to lessen any unhealthy attachment we might have to physical things; he can expose our pride and make us more humble; he can teach us patience—not only toward ourselves but toward others; and he can make us more steadfast, a precious ability to endure and keep going no matter what.

If you’re in the midst of some hardship right now, I’m sure it’s difficult. I hope you are finding some encouragement and getting the help you need.

I also hope that you are putting your hope in a God who is close; he leads you forward through a valley which might look and smell like death. But valleys have an end. And the people who come through the other side are often stronger and wiser when they do.

“Through the barrenness of soul God is producing detachment, humility, patience, perseverance.”

Keep going. Keep growing. Trust God.

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Notes:

—New Podcast. I’ve put together an in-depth Bible study episode called “The Second Coming, Rapture, New Creation, and Children of Light” which explores 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11. Click here to listen, or tune in to ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ to wherever you subscribe.

–*Richard J. Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (New York: HarperSanFancisco, 1992), 22.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.