About this apparent state of spiritual deadness and coming out on the other side, I am reminded of Kintsukuroi (thank you for sharing that with us so faithfully, Dee).
Kintsukuroi, as you recall, is "the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for haven been broken."
I am also reminded of John 12:24-25. Jesus is telling his disciples that it is his time to die, and his death would bear much greater fruit than his solitary earthly life could have done.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
I don't think Jesus was literally telling the disciples to hate life; but rather, to be willing to leave it behind at the prospect of something much greater in store.