Times of Barrenness

How often have you come into your “prayer closet” to pray but you feel empty, emotionless, quiet? I’ve feel this way many times, more times than not. Those times of exuberance and joy or of weeping before the Lord pouring out my heart to Him, feeling his presence seem to be to far and few between. I don’t like the feeling of fruitlessness like my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, or my words are dribbling off my chin, my time in prayer seems so useless. Recently I picked up Dana Candler’s book Deep unto Deep – The Journey of His Embrace searching for answers/comfort. I was encouraged to read that this “prayer warrior” has the same experiences I have in prayer. She wrote “It is enough to greatly discourage and even keep us from the whole pursuit of Him. . . . Later she points out that it is in our weakness that His strength is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9). . . . He beckons us to continually lift our weak voice and our weak gaze in prayer and communion with Him.” She explains that when we come to Him in these barren times His heart is touched by our faithfulness, “that what we call barren, He often calls fruitful; what we call wasteful He often calls well spent. That God is for me and that my prayer, though weak, is wisdom. These are the days He holds precious.” What an encouraging thought "these day He holds precious". I will look at my “barren” days differently, knowing He sees my weakness but my prayers still matter and I will not give up. Dana shares this prayer she prayed at the end of a “fruitless” day.
“Write it down in our book, O God. Though it was so empty and so dry, may it count in an eternal relevance I do not yet comprehend. Write it down so that one day You might read to me of it preciousness. Remember this day, though I know it will blend into so many days just like it in my own memory. Count it as valuable to the heart of God. And O God give me one grace I pray. Give me the grace to give myself in prayer once again tomorrow. To believe that it matters. To put my heart before you even though I feel so unproductive and unfruitful. Give me the grace to spend tomorrow once more before You in love. For I can think of no more noble way to spend a day with You, whether I feel Your nearness or not. Oh help me in the times of fainting. Give me the grace for one more day.”