Episode Summary: Have you ever sat down to pray and felt like your words were hitting the ceiling? Opened your Bible and felt nothing stir in your heart? Or gone through your day knowing all the “right” spiritual things to do, yet feeling strangely distant from God? If so, let me say this clearly right from the start: you are not alone, and you are not failing God.

Spiritual dryness is far more common than we talk about, especially among believers who genuinely love the Lord and want to walk closely with Him. And yet, when it happens, many of us quietly wonder, What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel so disconnected?

On this episode of Your Hope Filled Perspective, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I are having an honest, hope-filled conversation about what to do when you feel spiritually dry or distant from God, and how to walk through those seasons without shame, panic, or self-condemnation.

 

Quotables from the episode:
Let’s begin by naming something that often goes unspoken: spiritual dryness does not mean spiritual failure.
Here’s something critical to understand: feelings are not the same as faith. God’s presence does not fluctuate based on our emotional experience.
And that fear doesn’t come from theology. It comes from wiring. The human brain is designed to associate meaning with emotional feedback. When something once produced warmth, peace, or reassurance and suddenly doesn’t, the brain interprets that as loss, even if nothing has actually been taken away. This is why spiritual dryness doesn’t just feel neutral — it feels alarming. But here’s an important distinction: absence of emotional response is not absence of relationship.
So, what you’re saying is that the dryness isn’t necessarily a spiritual message — it’s a nervous system signal.
Often, yes. And when we misinterpret that signal spiritually, we add shame to exhaustion. This is where people start striving — more prayer, more discipline, more intensity — which ironically deepens the sense of distance. Because forced intimacy rarely restores connection.
Sometimes God feels silent not because He’s absent, but because He’s inviting us into a deeper, quieter trust.
There comes a point when faith matures beyond sensation. This doesn’t mean feelings are bad. It means feelings are no longer the foundation.
Some of the deepest spiritual maturity is formed in seasons where God feels quiet. I challenge you instead of wishing away this dry season, to look at it as a gift.
There comes a point when faith matures beyond sensation. This doesn’t mean feelings are bad. It means feelings are no longer the foundation.
If God feels distant right now, resist the urge to diagnose yourself. Instead, consider this: What if this season isn’t about fixing your faith, but strengthening its foundation? Faith that endures silence is not weaker faith. It’s anchored faith!

Scripture References:
Psalm 42 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.”
Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”

Recommended Resources:
Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel
Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue

 

Social Media Links for Host and Guest:

Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel:

Website / Instagram / Facebook

Connect with Dr. Bengtson:

Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book  Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /   Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple

Co-Host:

Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others.

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson

Episode Summary: Have you ever sat down to pray and felt like your words were hitting the ceiling? Opened your Bible and felt nothing stir in your heart? Or gone through your day knowing all the &ldquo;right&rdquo; spiritual things to do, yet feeling strangely distant from God? If so, let me say this clearly right from the start:&nbsp;you are not alone, and you are not failing God.
Spiritual dryness is far more common than we talk about, especially among believers who genuinely love the Lord and want to walk closely with Him. And yet, when it happens, many of us quietly wonder,&nbsp;What&rsquo;s wrong with me? Why do I feel so disconnected?
On this episode of Your Hope Filled Perspective, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I are having an honest, hope-filled conversation about what to do when you feel spiritually dry or distant from God, and how to walk through those seasons without shame, panic, or self-condemnation.
&nbsp;
Quotables from the episode:
<ul>
<li>Let&rsquo;s begin by naming something that often goes unspoken: spiritual dryness does not mean spiritual failure.</li>
<li>Here&rsquo;s something critical to understand: feelings are not the same as faith. God&rsquo;s presence does not fluctuate based on our emotional experience.</li>
<li>And that fear doesn&rsquo;t come from theology. It comes from wiring. The human brain is designed to associate meaning with emotional feedback. When something once produced warmth, peace, or reassurance and suddenly doesn&rsquo;t, the brain interprets that as loss, even if nothing has actually been taken away. This is why spiritual dryness doesn&rsquo;t just feel neutral &mdash; it feels alarming. But here&rsquo;s an important distinction: absence of emotional response is not absence of relationship.</li>
<li>So, what you&rsquo;re saying is that the dryness isn&rsquo;t necessarily a spiritual message &mdash; it&rsquo;s a nervous system signal.</li>
<li>Often, yes. And when we misinterpret that signal spiritually, we add shame to exhaustion. This is where people start striving &mdash; more prayer, more discipline, more intensity &mdash; which ironically deepens the sense of distance. Because forced intimacy rarely restores connection.</li>
<li>Sometimes God feels silent not because He&rsquo;s absent, but because He&rsquo;s inviting us into a deeper, quieter trust.</li>
<li>There comes a point when faith matures beyond sensation. This doesn&rsquo;t mean feelings are bad. It means feelings are no longer the foundation.</li>
<li>Some of the deepest spiritual maturity is formed in seasons where God feels quiet. I challenge you instead of wishing away this dry season, to look at it as a gift.</li>
<li>There comes a point when faith matures beyond sensation. This doesn&rsquo;t mean feelings are bad. It means feelings are no longer the foundation.</li>
<li>If God feels distant right now, resist the urge to diagnose yourself. Instead, consider this: What if this season isn&rsquo;t about fixing your faith, but strengthening its foundation? Faith that endures silence is not weaker faith. It&rsquo;s anchored faith!</li>
</ul>
Scripture References:
<ul>
<li>Psalm 42 &ldquo;As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Hebrews 13:5 &ldquo;I will never leave you nor forsake you.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Isaiah 41:10 &ldquo;So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
Recommended Resources:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/401AnCf">Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything</a>&nbsp;By Jessica Van Roekel</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3OpAZgQ">Sacred Scars: Resting in God&rsquo;s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted</a>&nbsp;by Dr. Michelle Bengtson</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3sCoqqm">The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms</a> by Dr. Michelle Bengtson</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3twWnXp">Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right</a> by Dr. Michelle Bengtson</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2ZSTP4N">Breaking Anxiety&rsquo;s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises</a>&nbsp;by Dr. Michelle Bengtson</li>
<li><a href="https://drmichellebengtson.com/breaking-anxietys-grip-study-guide/">Breaking Anxiety&rsquo;s Grip Free Study Guide</a></li>
<li>Free PDF Resource: <a href="https://drmichellebengtson.com/fight-anxious-fearful-thoughts-download/">How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win</a></li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2zB0e7J">Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor&rsquo;s Personal Journey Through Depression</a> by Dr. Michelle Bengtson</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2yMdN46">Hope Prevails Bible Study</a> by Dr. Michelle Bengtson</li>
<li>Free Webinar: <a href="https://drmichellebengtson.com/10-tips-to-beat-the-blues-webinar-replay-sign-up/">Help for When You&rsquo;re Feeling Blue</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Social Media Links for Host and Guest:
Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel:
<a href="https://welcomegrace.com/">Website</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jessica.vanroekel/">Instagram</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicavanroekel.author">Facebook</a>
Connect with Dr. Bengtson:
Order Book <a href="https://amzn.to/3OpAZgQ">Sacred Scars</a> / Order Book <a href="https://amzn.to/3sCoqqm">The Hem of His Garment</a> / Order Book <a href="https://amzn.to/3twWnXp">Today is Going to be a Good Day</a> / Order Book &nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/2Vvipro">Breaking Anxiety&rsquo;s Grip</a>&nbsp;/ Order Book&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/2Vus9SJ">Hope Prevails</a>&nbsp; / &nbsp;<a href="https://www.drmichellebengtson.com/">Website</a>&nbsp; / &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://drmichellebengtson.com/category/blog/">Blog</a>&nbsp; /&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleBengtson">Facebook</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twitter.com/DrMBengtson">Twitter</a>&nbsp;(@DrMBengtson) &nbsp;/&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/DrMichelleBengtson">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;/&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmichellebengtson">Instagram</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/Drbhopeprevails">Pinterest</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn92DHzGSZk8psDb2FKazOQ">YouTube</a> / <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-hope-filled-perspective-dr-michelle-bengtson-podcast/id1468018011">Podcast on Apple</a>
Co-Host:
Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don&rsquo;t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God&rsquo;s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God&rsquo;s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others.
Hosted By:&nbsp;Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson

Your Hope-Filled Perspective draws on Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s almost 3 decades of clinical expertise as a neuropsychologist to help her listeners regain hope, renew their minds, and transform their lives. With a perfect balance of clinical expertise, compassion, and vulnerability, Dr. Bengtson and her guests purpose to share Biblically-based hope-filled perspectives for real-life issues, struggles, and concerns. Voted #2 in 2022's Podcast Magazine's Top 50 Moms in Podcasting.

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Your Hope-Filled Perspective draws on Dr. Michelle Bengtson&rsquo;s almost 3 decades of clinical expertise as a neuropsychologist to help her listeners regain hope, renew their minds, and transform their lives. With a perfect balance of clinical expertise, compassion, and vulnerability, Dr. Bengtson and her guests purpose to share Biblically-based hope-filled perspectives for real-life issues, struggles, and concerns. Voted #2 in 2022's Podcast Magazine's Top 50 Moms in Podcasting.

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson

What to Do When You Feel Spiritually Dry or Disconnected from God

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/682531b9-8214-48fb-ace7-b490001f3886/transcript