I have a confession: I don’t always want to have my quiet time. Sometimes I have lengthy seasons that are completely dry, and I would just as soon not open God’s Word. Nonetheless, I continue to have a quiet time when I don’t want to. Why? Isn’t that just hypocritical? If my heart isn’t in it, why bother?
Just as I sometimes don’t want to read my Bible, the Israelites came to a point where they were tired of manna, God’s sustaining provision in their lives. (If you missed the first two posts in this series on manna, you can find them here: Manna: What Is It? and Manna: What Does It Represent?)
Numbers 11:4-6
And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick; but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
The Israelites longed for something more satisfying, and they thought they could find it in their former pleasure in the land of Egypt. They failed to realize that God had provided them with everything they needed. God has provided us with what we need to fill our deepest hunger through His Word. When we don’t want to read God’s Word, there are three things we must remember.
RECOGNIZE WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES
The problem is never with God’s provision; the problem is with my heart attitude. Whether it is a result of sin in my life or a result of a season of discouragement, the reason for a lack of desire to read God’s Word is not that His Word is no longer satisfying. God’s Word will always be perfect, exactly what I need to satisfy my deepest longings. If I’m not satisfied, I am the problem. I may need to deal with the sin issue in my life or persevere through a season of discouragement, but I don’t ever want to neglect to read God’s Word. He will use it to help me to come through to the other side of whatever I’m facing.
REMEMBER THAT EVEN IF I DON’T WANT IT, I NEED IT
God’s Word is essential for my survival spiritually, just as food is essential for my survival physically. I wouldn’t go days without eating just because nothing sounds good. My survival instinct would kick in, and I would have to eat something. There’s no use skipping a spiritual meal just because it doesn’t sound appetizing. God’s Word will nourish our souls, even when we don’t realize it.
REST IN KNOWING THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT I NEED BETTER THAN I DO
As much as I strive for my appetites to be for spiritual things, there are times when I just want spiritual junk food. Nothing sinful, per se. I just want to scroll social media or read a fiction book for hours on end. I somehow feel like this will satisfy me. But God says differently.
Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
Manna was meant to be a reminder that more than we need food to survive, we need the Word of God. I may think something else will satisfy me, but I must trust that God knows what I need. He has provided completely satisfying food for my soul through His Word.
What about you? What helps you stay consistent when you’re going through a dry season? Share with me in the comments! If you need help staying consistent, I would love to provide you with a tool to help. The Sixty Second Quiet Time is an easy way to consistently connect with God, even in the dry seasons. Leave your name and email address below, and I will send this guide to your inbox for free.