In this interview, Spencer Dalke sits down with theologian Kyle Strobel to explore the often confusing experience of spiritual dryness and seasons when God feels absent. Drawing from his own story and the wisdom of the Puritans and figures like Jonathan Edwards, Strobel explains how these periods—often described as “spiritual desertion”—are not signs of failure or abandonment, but part of God’s work in deepening faith, exposing hidden sin, and teaching humility. He challenges the common assumption that spiritual maturity is measured by emotional highs, instead pointing listeners toward a life of steady faith, honest prayer, and dependence on God even when feelings fade. The conversation offers a pastoral vision of spiritual formation that centers on abiding in Christ in weakness, learning to bring one’s true self before God, and discovering that even in the desert, God is at work drawing believers into deeper love and trust.
- God’s consolation—and desolation! —as gifts to us.
- Responding humbly to God’s gifts.
- How to carry on in seasons of God’s desolation.
“At a certain point, the Lord leads us into the desert to show us what’s in our hearts. If you think all spiritual formation is you doing spiritual practices, that’s going to reveal that you’re trying to live the Christian life in your own strength.”
“In all of these different experiences, the answer is the same: Draw near to Jesus. It’s never trying to get somewhere; it’s always saying, ‘If this is where you have me, Lord, I am yours here.’”
Featured work: When God Seems Distant: Surprising Ways God Deepens Our Faith and Draws Us Near
Connect with Kyle Strobel on Substack.
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