Don’t Cling to the Empty Riverbed: Trusting God in Dry Seasons

Gladys Childs
May 5
3 min read

“And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’” 1 Kings 17:7–9 (ESV)

A Parched Place

I'll never forget losing my lifeline. My brother’s calls and texts—late-night laughs, quick check-ins—held me together. Then came the call: “Come now. He won’t make it.”

That evening, after my brother passed, I scrolled through our silent text messages—the void deeper than our last “love you.” I had known God's gift in those years of connection. But now? The brook was dry, and grief whispered, Where’s God?

But here's the truth: dry brooks don’t mean God’s gone. Sometimes, they’re where He begins to dig new rivers.

The Space Between What Dried Up and What’s Coming

Elijah knew that ache. He had spoken a hard truth to King Ahab and then hid by God’s command, drinking from the brook Cherith. For a while, the water flowed. Then, without warning, it didn’t. No rain. No explanation. Just silence and dust. In that silence, Elijah had to decide: cling to what was… or trust the God who still speaks.

God never intended for Elijah to mourn by a dried-up stream forever. He told him to go toward Zarephath, toward something unexpected. The provision wasn’t where Elijah had been but where God was leading.

He could’ve stayed, reliving the sound of flowing water, replaying old conversations with ravens. But faith means stepping forward before the miracle shows up. It means trusting God in the in-between.

What About You?

Look at your dry brook. Is it a prodigal child whose silence haunts you? A marriage that’s gone quiet? A calling that feels stuck in neutral? Instead of replaying what used to be, take the next step. Write the message. Make the call. Pray the prayer. Ask God, Where are You leading me now? Because here's what 1 Kings 17 shows us:

God’s provision shifts—it doesn’t stop. At Zarephath, Elijah met a widow on the brink of starvation. And yet, her jars brimmed when obedience met faith. Your next step may not look like abundance yet. But the God who met Elijah meets you right here, in the dust.

Trusting God in Dry Seasons

Sometimes, we ask God to restore what we lost. But sometimes, God’s offering something better—Himself. “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38 (ESV) Jesus doesn’t just lead you to water. He is the water.

I remember after my brother died—how the silence screamed. The texts stopped. The laughter vanished. The brook that had held me together… was gone.

And in that hollow, Jesus met me. Not with quick fixes, but with Himself. Living Water in the middle of grief.

So when every brook dries up—when the thing that used to sustain you disappears—know this: Jesus remains. And He never runs dry.

Dear friend, this isn’t the end of your story. God is calling you forward. Trusting God in dry seasons doesn’t mean pretending the drought didn’t happen—it means refusing to stay where life stopped. Don’t cling to the empty riverbed. Something is waiting on the other side. Step forward—God’s already there. Your river is rising.

In Your Life

What “brook” has dried up, leaving you feeling afraid or forgotten?
Where might God be leading that you haven’t yet considered?
How might trusting Him as your source, not your surroundings, bring peace even now?

In His Word

“Behold, I am doing a new thing… I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

“And the Lord will guide you continually… you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11 (ESV)

Spend time praying over these promises. Ask God to show you what He’s already making new. Trust Him in the space between the drought and the downpour.

Prayer: Lord, when the brook runs dry, help me trust You’re still moving. Lead me from what’s empty to what You’ve prepared. Be my source, my strength, my Living Water. Amen.

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