When The Well Runs Dry

Maybe that was your weekend - you couldn’t get moving. The words flowed - like molasses. Your fingers felt like lead on the keyboard. The well was - well - dry.

Seeing that we are not inspired by the Holy Spirit, giving us words when we do not have them, for most of us (at least the humans among us) the well sometimes runs dry. What do we do when the well runs dry?

• Relax: The stresses of life often side-track us and drain our ability to focus, think, and create. Examine your schedule. How are you coping with the difficult people, the untamed schedule, the unappeasable people? Sometimes just stepping back from the stress, praying about the issue and taking a deep breath does work.

• Reflect: When it seems I can’t find a thing in the world to write about, preach about, or move on often just reflecting on a text, a program, or a challenge - where you’ve been, where you want to be on it, or how you might move forward will allow for you to progress.  

• Recreate: At the apex of Jesus and the Apostles most busy times He would take them away from the crowds, away from the sick who needed healing, away from the people who needed messages about the Kingdom and tell them to rest. Years ago when I was getting ready to take a few days away with my family an old goat said: “You don’t need a vacation, the devil doesn’t take time off.” A wiser me would remember that it isn’t my goal to be like the devil but like the Lord! When you are out of go juice - you may just need to stop going for a while!

• Refocus: Go back, remember what your mission and purpose is in what you are attempting to accomplish. With the stresses of ministry it becomes very easy to allow your focus to be taken off of Jesus and onto the myriad of issues around you.  

Pray, remember what got you into ministry, rejoice in the good, get in the Word, love those around you and before you know it you’ll be moving again.