Preaching in Dry Seasons
Finding Fresh Manna in Tough Times
Key Verse:
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
—Matthew 4:4
When the Wellspring Feels Dry
There are times in ministry when the sermons come easily—when Scripture leaps off the page, the Spirit stirs deeply, and you can't wait to preach what God has placed on your heart.
But then there are dry seasons.
Seasons when the Scriptures feel silent, your creativity feels empty, and Sunday’s pulpit feels more like a burden than a joy. It’s not that you’ve lost faith—it’s that you feel poured out, dried up, and unsure how to feed the flock when your own soul feels hungry.
God Feeds the Faithful First
In Exodus 16, God didn’t send Israel a week’s worth of food in one drop. He gave them daily manna—just enough for today. The same is true sometimes in our preaching.
God doesn’t promise we’ll always be overflowing. But He does promise that His Word will be enough, His Spirit will be present, and His mercies will be new each morning.
You don’t have to feel overflowing to be faithful—you just have to show up, open the Word, and ask for that day's portion.
The Myth of the Constant Mountaintop
We sometimes believe the lie that real pastors are always “on fire,” always inspired, always bursting with spiritual energy. But the truth is, even Elijah needed a broom tree (1 Kings 19:4). Even Paul asked for prayer “so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). Even Jesus retreated to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16).
Dry seasons aren’t signs of failure—they’re invitations to depend more fully on the Lord.
Faithfulness Over Feelings
Pastor, if you wait to preach until you feel inspired, you'll eventually stop preaching altogether. But if you preach out of obedience—believing that God's Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11)—then even your driest sermons can produce the deepest fruit.
You are not called to manufacture spiritual rain—you are called to faithfully sow the seed.
When the Congregation Doesn’t Know You’re Struggling
Imagine this:
You’ve labored all week to prepare a sermon. You felt spiritually dry. The text felt difficult. The illustrations felt tired. You barely finished your manuscript.
Then Sunday arrives. You preach what you think is “just okay.”
And a family comes forward with tears in their eyes, saying, “That was exactly what we needed.”
That’s the power of manna.
It didn’t look impressive. It didn’t always taste exciting. But it was nourishment from heaven—and it sustained God’s people one day at a time.
Pray First, Prepare Anyway
Sometimes the best thing you can do in a dry season is to pray like the Psalmist: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18). Then, whether the inspiration comes or not, open your Bible, open your laptop, and begin.
Start with Scripture. Build with prayer. Finish with trust.
Your job isn’t to impress. Your job is to proclaim.
God Still Speaks in the Silence
Just because the Spirit feels quiet doesn’t mean He’s absent. Just because the sermon doesn’t thrill you doesn’t mean it won’t transform someone else. God still speaks. Even in the desert. Even when the preacher is weary.
Prayer Thought
Lord, when my soul feels dry and the sermon feels distant, meet me with Your presence. Remind me that fresh manna comes from Your Word—not my emotions. Strengthen me to preach in faith, to serve in obedience, and to trust that You will nourish Your people through the power of Your truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastoring Tip of the Week
Build a small library of “emergency sermons”—messages rooted in core doctrines like the cross, grace, prayer, and perseverance. In dry seasons, these can become wells of nourishment—for both your people and your soul.
💡 Need a Backup Plan for the Dry Seasons?
Even faithful preachers face fatigue. If you ever find yourself in a dry stretch and struggling to prepare, let us help lighten your load without compromising the integrity of your message.
📘 Annual Sermons Collection (Instant Download)
This massive collection of sermon manuscripts gives you a well of biblically sound material to draw from anytime you need fresh direction. Ideal for full-time, bi-vocational, and retired pastors alike.
Sometimes the best way to get through a dry season is to lean on proven truth until the rain falls again.
Note: All Scripture from the NIV Bible Translation.