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With every passing day, the temperatures are rising. The long winter we enjoyed in Hyderabad, is now being effectively replaced by heat & dryness of what is being forecast as the hottest summer. We all know the harmful effects of heat and we go to great lengths to beat it. But sometimes no matter what we do the parching heat leaves us dry, and thirstier than ever. 

Let us consider for a moment this so called impact due to seasonal change, in a spiritual connotation. If there were seasons in life (and there are); there would be times when we feel spiritually dry! I wouldn't blame you if you felt like; you were the only one facing this drought. We are accompanied by a long list of Christians who yearned for the assurance that God was present with them, especially during seasons of dryness and doubt. Dry seasons, though, have a purpose. 

If you are going through a dry season, and it may have been a long one! Do remember, that the Bible has beautiful answers to every single one of life's problems. And here are some simple and practical steps to overcome:

1.     Get honest with God and Pray - David starts off in Psalm 13, by stating his problem. Four times he asks God, How Long?  Tell Him exactly how you’re feeling; and where you are struggling. It’s easy to feel ashamed and stay away from God and prayer; but the truth is, He already knows, and He definitely wants to help you. Just keep the lines of communication open. In Psalm 42: 6, David now questions himself instead of God. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.   

2. Dig deep into God’s Word: It’s interesting to see that, when you are going through dryness, you might feel like it’s such a waste of time to even read the Bible, as you are not in the right frame of mind, or are totally closed. The truth is, the Bible is exactly what you need for this situation. Whether you feel like it or not, whether it makes a difference or not, just go ahead and pick and read an encouraging devotion or even listen to a song with lots of Scripture in it. 

3.   Memorize scriptures: Memorize Scripture that speaks to your season of struggle. Some good ones to get started with are:

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34). 

You can always trust Scripture to lift you up!

4.  Get honest with a few trusted friends: Surround yourself with godly people. While you would do well to avoid making your life an open book, it’s always prudent to have some trusted friends, with whom you could confide, and pray with! And you'd be surprised by how others too have had similar dry experiences.  

5.     Try to journal your thoughts each day - Keeping a record of God’s faithfulness can be a key tool of encouragement for times when you might feel distant from him. The next time you enter a season of dryness and you are wondering if God is present, think about your own testimony, go through the journal and you will find God revealing Himself to you through His Son, His Word, and His Spirit all over again. I know what you are thinking- who has time to jot down points in a note book, in this day and age! Well you might be right; but we certainly have time for whatsapp or facebook. There are alternatives to pen and paper; it could be an e-note pad on your hand phone or even daily texts to your spouse! Begin this journal journey!