7 Simple Ways for Trusting God Through Dry Seasons
Oh, Lovely. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in traffic after daycare drop-off, already exhausted before the workday begins, wondering if anything you’re doing actually matters, then you’re in good company. I’ve been there—many times. There are days where I feel like I’ve poured out every drop of energy before 9 a.m., and yet the to-do list somehow keeps growing. The kids need snacks (again), emails are piling up, and the house? Let’s just say it looks like it’s been ransacked by tiny hobbits on a sugar high. And in the middle of it all, I catch myself wondering: Is any of this actually producing fruit?
There are seasons in motherhood—especially as a working mom with littles—that feel painfully dry. I’m talking soul-dry. The prayers feel unanswered, your Bible gathers dust on the nightstand, and the rhythm of work-home-work-home starts to blur into something exhausting and thankless. You’re trying to sow seeds of faith, grace, and love—but the soil feels cracked and hardened, and there’s no green sprout in sight. Just more dishes. More deadlines. More sighs.
But here’s the quiet truth that keeps my heart anchored when the days feel heavy: God is faithful, even when we can’t see the harvest yet. Just like a garden doesn’t bloom the moment you water it, the fruit of your faithfulness is growing—quietly, steadily, even when you can’t see it. So pull up a chair (or let’s be honest, sit for five minutes while the baby naps and the pasta boils), and let’s talk about what it means to keep trusting God through dry seasons.
What does it really mean to trust God when I don’t see results?
Trusting God sounds nice in theory—until you’re knee-deep in diapers, deadlines, and daycare pickups, and you feel like nothing you do is actually making a difference. What does trust even look like when you’re bone-tired and barely have time to read a single verse, let alone feel spiritually grounded?
The truth is, trusting God isn’t about achieving a perfect devotional routine or pretending to have it all together. It’s about a real, honest, daily choice to believe that God is present—even when your life feels like chaos. Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” And girl, let me tell you—there are plenty of things I don’t see. I don’t always see the results of my mothering, my prayers, or my obedience. But trust means I keep planting anyway.
It’s choosing to believe that the seed matters, even if the sprout hasn’t pushed through the surface. It’s trusting that the mundane—packing lunches, answering emails, showing up to work when your heart longs to be home—is seen by God. It matters. Every small act of faithfulness is a thread in the bigger tapestry He’s weaving.
When we don’t see results, it doesn’t mean God is absent. Sometimes, the most powerful work He does is hidden beneath the surface—just like roots growing deep before a plant ever breaks the ground. So keep showing up, even when the harvest feels far away. Because He sees. And He never wastes a single tear or a single act of love.
Read more: 5 Steps for Letting Go of Worry and Embracing Trust
Why does God allow dry seasons in motherhood and life?
This is a hard one. When your heart feels dry and cracked, it’s easy to wonder if you’ve done something wrong—if God is distant because you failed somehow. But let me lovingly remind you: dry seasons aren’t always punishment. Often, they’re preparation.
Think about the greats in Scripture. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness tending sheep before God called him to lead Israel. David was anointed king—but then spent years hiding in caves. And even Jesus, our Savior, was led into the wilderness for 40 days before beginning His ministry. The wilderness has always been part of God’s refining process.
John 15:2 says, “Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Pruning doesn’t feel good—it’s cutting away. It’s discomfort. But it’s purposeful. When we walk through dry seasons, God isn’t abandoning us; He’s deepening our roots, teaching us to rely on Him and not our own strength.
Motherhood, especially in the little years, can feel like a long wilderness road. But God isn’t just looking at your present; He’s cultivating something eternal in you. He’s shaping your heart, your patience, your ability to lean on Him. He’s teaching you how to trust when it doesn’t make sense—how to find joy not in circumstances but in His presence.
So if you’re in a season where everything feels dry, don’t let the enemy convince you that God has forgotten you. He is near. He’s doing more in your heart than you know. And the harvest? It’s coming. Just not always on our timeline.
Read more: 8 Ways to Find Contentment in Christ
How can I know God is still with me—and find purpose—when I feel so emotionally and spiritually empty?
Let’s talk about emptiness. Because sometimes, you’re not just tired—you’re empty. You feel poured out in every way, like you have nothing left to give. Your quiet time feels more like a checklist, your emotions are fried, and your prayers sound more like, “Help, Lord,” than a full Psalm.
But here’s what I want you to hear: God doesn’t walk away when you’re running on empty. In fact, He draws closer. Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) reminds us, “Be strong and courageous… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Not when you’re strong. Not when you’re consistent. Not when you’re joyful. He is with you even now.
And here’s the other piece of hope: there is still purpose in this dry season. So often we equate purpose with productivity. But the Kingdom of God doesn’t work that way. You don’t have to lead a Bible study, write a book, or host a women’s retreat to have purpose. Sometimes, purpose looks like praying over your children while doing dishes. Sometimes it’s doing your job with integrity when your heart longs to be elsewhere. Sometimes, it’s offering kindness in your weariness.
This season may feel invisible—but God is using it. You’re building a legacy, one tired day at a time. Don’t underestimate the power of faithfulness in the shadows. Because what feels small to us is often kingdom-sized in His eyes.
7 Simple Ways for Trusting God Through Dry Seasons
When you’re walking through a dry season, the last thing you need is another overwhelming list of things you “should” be doing. This isn’t that kind of list. These aren’t meant to be heavy burdens but rather gentle reminders—soul-deep encouragements you can tuck into your heart and come back to on the hard days. They aren’t steps to earn God’s love or prove your worth. They’re simply ways to stay connected, to abide in the Vine, and to keep pressing into the One who knows exactly how tired you are. So if you’re weary, discouraged, or just need a moment of peace, I pray these speak life into your heart today.
1. Cling to Scripture even when it feels flat.
If I’m honest, there have been mornings when I opened my Bible and felt…nothing. No goosebumps. No clarity. Just the same verses I’ve read a hundred times. But I’ve learned that God’s Word is still living and active (Hebrews 4:12), even when my heart is numb to it. Reading Scripture during dry seasons is like continuing to water a seed when you’re not even sure it’s still alive—faithfully trusting that God’s truth doesn’t depend on your feelings.
Sometimes we need to stop chasing the feeling and return to the foundation. Even a verse scribbled on a sticky note can become living water in your dry season. Try meditating on a short passage while doing the dishes, or speaking it out loud during your commute. The power of God’s Word isn’t lessened by our distractions or fatigue. It still plants seeds of truth in our weary hearts, even when we feel too tired to notice.
You’re not failing if your quiet time doesn’t look like a cozy Instagram post with candles and a perfect latte. God is not measuring your spiritual life by aesthetics. If your toddler is climbing over you while you read Psalm 23 for the third day in a row—believe me, that counts. You are showing up. You are letting His Word root itself in you, and that’s exactly what trusting God through dry seasons looks like.
2. Keep showing up in obedience.
Let’s be real—obedience doesn’t always feel glorious. Sometimes it looks like rolling out of bed when every fiber of your body is begging for ten more minutes. Sometimes it’s biting your tongue when your toddler throws spaghetti at the wall, or choosing to show kindness to your spouse after a draining day. Obedience isn’t always flashy. Most of the time, it’s painfully ordinary. But that’s where God works—in the hidden places, in the faithful yes’s when no one is watching.
We often picture obedience as these big, life-altering choices, but most of the spiritual growth I’ve experienced has come from just doing the next right thing. The next load of laundry. The next gentle answer. The next commute where I choose to worship instead of worry. Every single one of those choices adds up. Every moment you choose obedience over giving up is another brick in the foundation God is building in you. And He sees it. Even if no one else does.
One of my favorite stories is Ruth’s. She wasn’t seeking fame or attention—she just kept showing up to glean in the fields. She didn’t know that her obedience would lead to being part of the lineage of Christ. That’s the beauty of obedience—it may not make sense in the moment, but God always weaves it into His bigger plan. So keep showing up, Lovely. Even when it’s hard. Even when it feels like no one sees. Your obedience is planting seeds for a harvest you can’t even imagine yet.
3. Pray raw, honest prayers.
Prayer doesn’t have to be poetic to be powerful. Some of my most honest prayers have come from the driver’s seat of my car, eyes full of tears, whispering, “Lord, I don’t know what I’m doing.” If you’ve ever prayed through clenched teeth or with your head in your hands over a cold cup of coffee, you’re not alone. The beauty of our relationship with God is that He invites us to come just as we are—no polish required.
We see this all over the Psalms. David cried out, questioned, wrestled with God—and yet, God called him a man after His own heart. Why? Because David came honestly. He poured out every fear, every disappointment, every moment of joy and sorrow. That’s what God desires from us, too. In Romans 8:26, we’re reminded that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. So even when you don’t have the strength or vocabulary, your spirit can still reach His.
There is no shame in raw prayers. There is no condemnation for prayers that sound more like cries for help than eloquent petitions. Talk to Him in the middle of dishes. Whisper to Him while rocking your baby back to sleep. Pour out your heart in voice memos if that’s what helps. Your honesty draws you near to His heart. And you’ll find, over time, that those unfiltered prayers begin to soften the dry ground.
4. Practice Sabbath moments.
If the word “Sabbath” makes you think of an uninterrupted day of silence and rest, then welcome to the real world of working motherhood—where rest is often interrupted by snack demands, a ringing phone, or the realization that you forgot to defrost the chicken. But Sabbath isn’t about having an Instagram-worthy, picture-perfect day off. It’s about pausing. It’s about stepping out of the constant motion to remember that you are not the glue holding everything together—God is.
Sabbath moments can look like a five-minute breather at the kitchen table with your coffee before the chaos starts again. Or choosing worship music over the latest podcast while driving home from work. It can be turning your phone off for a short while on Saturday afternoon to snuggle your babies without distractions. These small choices might seem insignificant, but they’re spiritual resets. They gently redirect our eyes from the whirlwind of our responsibilities to the One who gives us rest.
When you honor these little Sabbath moments, you’re practicing trust. You’re saying, “God, I believe the world can keep spinning without me hustling every second.” And that, Lovely, is a holy kind of rest. It’s a rebellious act against the lie that your worth is in your productivity. Instead, it anchors you back in your identity as a beloved daughter of the King, who invites you to simply be with Him—not just do for Him.
5. Look back at past faithfulness.
It’s easy to forget, in the middle of a dry season, all the ways God has shown up before. Our hearts tend to focus on the current struggle, the unanswered prayer, the long wait. But when we take time to remember, to really pause and reflect on the goodness of God in our lives, something powerful happens: our faith is stirred. Our hope is renewed. We remember that the same God who was faithful before is still working now.
Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” This is not just poetic language—it’s a spiritual discipline. Think back to the last time God met a need in your life. Maybe it was that unexpected check that helped you make rent, the job offer that came at just the right time, or the peace that settled in your spirit when you didn’t even know how to pray. Those moments matter. They’re markers along your journey that remind you He has never left you.
Start a list. Grab a notebook or the notes app on your phone and begin writing down little miracles—past provision, prayers answered, ways He’s held you through other hard things. Talk about them with your kids. Share them with a friend. Let the remembering become a rhythm in your home. Because when you look back and see His fingerprints all over your past, it becomes a lot easier to trust Him with your future.
6. Surround yourself with godly encouragement.
You weren’t meant to do this alone. Motherhood, marriage, work—these are heavy things. And when you isolate, the weight feels even heavier. It’s easy to stay tucked away in our own stress, convinced that no one else would understand. But friend, I promise you—there are other women walking through dry seasons too. And sometimes, just knowing you’re not alone can be a lifeline.
Call that friend who always points you back to Jesus. Even if it’s been a while. Join that women’s Bible study you’ve been nervous about attending. Or, if life feels too full for that right now, start small—maybe it’s listening to a podcast while you drive, or turning on worship music while you clean up the kitchen. Whether it’s Sally Clarkson, Elisabeth Elliot quotes, or your favorite worship playlist, surround yourself with reminders of truth.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is text someone and say, “I’m not okay.” Vulnerability opens the door for encouragement. When you let others into your dry season, you give them the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ in your life. You weren’t designed to pour from an empty cup—so let someone help fill it when you need to.
7. Trust that the unseen roots are growing.
Picture a seed buried in soil. Nothing to show for your efforts. No visible sprout. Just silence and darkness. But underground? Life is happening. The roots are stretching, anchoring, preparing the plant to rise. That’s what God is doing in you—even when it feels like nothing is changing.
Galatians 6:9 gives us such a powerful promise: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” That verse hits deep, doesn’t it? Especially when you’re showing up, doing your best, and it feels like the only thing growing is your exhaustion. But Scripture says the harvest will come. If we do not give up.
So keep praying. Keep hugging your kids when you’re tired. Keep showing up at your job with integrity. Keep making dinner, reading the Bible to sleepy little ones, speaking gently when your nerves are fried. It may not look like much now, but something beautiful is growing underneath. God doesn’t waste obedience. The roots are growing—and one day, they’ll hold up something strong and beautiful.
Dry seasons are real. Burnout is real. But so is God’s presence. And just because you don’t feel Him doesn’t mean He’s gone silent. He is still at work, even in the quiet. He is still writing your story.
So, Lovely, don’t give up. Keep planting. Keep praying. Keep trusting God through dry seasons. Because the harvest will come. It might not be in your timing. It might not look like what you expected. But it will be good. Because He is good.
Have you ever felt like you were in a dry season and couldn’t see the fruit of your efforts?
I’d love to hear what helped you hold on—share below!
