Every believer goes through times when they feel distant from God. Intellectually, you know that God is always there with you. But that doesn’t always change the way you feel.
Maybe Scripture doesn’t speak to you as it once did. Maybe your prayers seem empty. Maybe your heart just feels numb to everything. Maybe you worry that you have lost your connection with God. Even worse, you might worry that God has abandoned you.
Take heart in knowing that you’re not alone. In fact, there are plenty of stories in the Bible about this experience.
If God feels unbearably far away, commit to these six acts. They will help you remember the Lord’s presence.
1. Be Honest With God About How You Feel
God knows your innermost thoughts and feelings. The question is whether you choose to tell Him the truth. You might as well. The Almighty can easily take on the weight of your doubt, anger, confusion, and all other raw emotions. He’s there to shoulder the burden with you.
After all, God heard the truth when King David, one of His most committed servants, asked, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). If God feels silent, let Him know. By telling the truth, you might learn how to reconnect with God on a level deeper than ever before.
Even as King David struggled with this sense of loss, he acknowledged, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6).
Note that David managed to remember God’s love even when he felt alone. That’s the kind of inspiration that can get you through life’s rough patches.
2. Return to God’s Word Even if it Feels Dry
Does God’s Word feel dry or empty to you? The truth is that the Bible is a living, active document that always speaks to God’s followers. Even if you don’t “feel it” right now, reading scripture is always the way to grow closer to God.
As long as you continue to read, you will reconnect with God’s presence. And you’ll learn a lot of important lessons along the way.
As Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
3. Reflect on God’s Past Faithfulness
Feeling far from God on occasion is normal. You’ve probably had similar experiences in friendships and other relationships. Have you gone through periods when you don’t feel connected to some of your closest loved ones?
It’s important to remember that God has been there for you in the past. He’s there for you during life’s hardest moments. When God feels distant, remind yourself of those times. It’s through His support and forgiveness that you managed to survive past troubles.
Of course, God has also given you amazing gifts. Don’t forget about those.
When you doubt that you’ll ever feel close to God again, turn to Psalm 77:11: "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago."
King David embraced this perspective. You can, too.
4. Worship Through the Silence
Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
What does this mean for someone going through a difficult spiritual time? It means that you should continue to honor God as your Creator and Savior. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility and command to worship God. He provides gifts because He loves you. But you’re the one obligated to worship Him throughout your life. It’s your purpose, and it will bring you peace.
5. Connect With the Body of Christ
When you start to feel distant from God, commit yourself to connecting with your community. This might sound like an odd thing to do. What can you offer your congregation when you don’t feel a strong connection to God?
The truth is that you need to lean on your community. It will provide you with critical support during this challenging time.
Attend church, worship as you normally would, and reach out to trusted community members to talk about your situation. Hebrews 3:13 says to “encourage one another daily so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
One day, it will be your turn to support someone in need. Today, though, you need to accept your community’s encouragement so you don’t stray from the Word.
6. Trust That God is Still Working
God is active in your life, regardless of whether you sense His presence. As Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
You might feel isolated from God, but He’s working hard to mend any spiritual wounds you’ve experienced. You already know that God is everywhere all the time. That means He can’t possibly have abandoned you.
Trust that God is working harder than ever to give you a meaningful, fulfilling life. It might take some time for you to recover and feel connected to Him again. That’s just part of the human experience. God, however, is always there.
Feeling far from God doesn’t mean that He’s abandoned you. It means you’re a human who needs His presence more now than ever.
Don’t pull away from His love. No matter how you feel, that’s the last thing you should do. Instead, lean into Him. Eventually, you’ll hear His presence in your life. It might start as a slight whisper, but it will grow louder as you trust in Him.
He is always closer than you think, and He will meet you right where you are. Trust that these feelings will pass, and you’ll feel closer than ever to the Lord.
