Why is it that God seems so far away when you're going through life's problems?

Question

If you don't believe in God, don't even waste the key strokes in an attempt at being sarcastic. Don't go away mad, just go away.

Answer 1

Hello kooties_2000.. :)

For we walk by faith and not by sight..we trust in His Holy word..not feelings..

When God seems the farthest away..that is when He is the closet..just trust in Him..for He said He will never leave you nor forsake you..

It is like the story about Footprints in the Sand..

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.”

I am here for you if you need me.. :)

In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..your sister..In Christ.. :)

Answer 2

Only seems that way. Want to have REAL problems? Ask God for Patience, to possess that Virtue. Everything will go wrong. Why is this? Because God is giving you the opportunity to learn Patience.

He's not far away when that's going on. He's within you, we call it "conscience" when it's telling you you are wrong and "intuition" when we follow its leadings. It is like a DSL link to the Source of all knowing.

To better hear the wordless knowing, there is a free exercise at link below called "be still and know". There is a catch though: As you wake up out of our chronic dream state, the first Truth we see is the truth about ourselves. The process is never ending but brings humility and eventually wisdom. Price is you have to give up your Pride and that is a death of a thousand cuts.

Answer 3

Remember Lazarus? Jesus didn't come to raise him from the dead until he stuck. Mary scolded Jesus, if you had been here...., I can't tell you how many times I have thought, well you are a little late God, sometimes it just seems like he is always running three days late. But, it is not true, he holds time in his hand, and he knows exactly what we need and when we need it. There is always a purpose, although we can't see it now. There is no easy answer to this question, but the fact is, God is right there with you, every step of the way, when you are crying, and tired and weak, and if you can't feel him because of the hurt, it is not because he is not there. He is working out his perfect plan in you, and has been since before time began.

Answer 4

Perhaps during our problems we focus on ourselves and not God and His plan for us. First ask yourself if your doing something that He doesn't want for you. This might be His way of getting your attention. Also remember that someone is always worse off or has different problems. If you've lost your job help out at a homeless shelter...thank God you have a home. If your wife left you and took the kids help at a children's hospital and thank God your kids are healthy. Get the idea? We can always find a reason to praise God. Even if your whole world is falling apart you can thank God for the Gift of His Son, Jesus.

There are also times when God is quite and we feel separated from Him, not because we displease Him but because He wants us to grow in faith and produce "much good fruit". Be persistent in prayer...abide in Him.

Answer 5

Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you" and "yea, I will be with you even to the end of the age." God is more concerned with your faith than with you always feeling his presence.

This is a testing of your faith when you don't ~feel~ His presence, but that doesn't mean He has left you. He said He never would.

We each have seasons in our lives. In some areas of life you may be in springtime when you are planting seed, other areas summer time where you see immense growth, in others harvest time when you are reaping what you've sown, and yet others winter time where it seems like everything is dead and will never grow again, but springtime is just around the corner.

During these times we are instructed to praise him anyway, seek him anyway - diligently....if you do, you'll probably get through the trials more quickly and have other rewards tangible possibly and intangible surely.

Answer 6

Who said God was far away? How can a God who is Omnipresent (everywhere) be far away? And that could be our problem, we always believe He is far away. Why do we believe that solutions are ALWAYS outside of us and God dwells elsewhere? The thing to remember is that when Jesus died on the Cross it was NOT to take away pain and suffering, but fill them with His presence. Therefor, pain, suffering, and death do not have the final say in life. Therefor, He is in the midst of your troubles suffering along with you while you are looking outward for Him. In the middle of it all He is also helping you. The trick is for us to recognize when that is happening.
Last thing to consider is not all our troubles can be resolved by us. As Christians we are in the image and likeness of Christ. We participate in His salvific mission. Hence the term Christian "partisans of Christ". And as partisans we are to suffer as well, but there is glory through our suffering. His Transfiguration on the mountain and His resurrection has proven this.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john

Answer 7

For the same reason that it is difficult to see the sunny sky at the bottom of a steep ravine. When you're really in the thick of it so to speak you are looking at the problems and they seem so big you can't see past them.

Have you ever heard the poem that was inscribed on a German prison cell during WWII:

I believe in the sun even when it isn't shining.
I believe in love even when there's no one there
and I believe in God even when He is silent.

Answer 8

Actually, He is closer to us when we do go through trials. It may not seem that way at times, but it is when we are in the crucibles of life that God is right at our side, helping us through them. Remember the account in Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They were in the furnace because of their refusal to compromise. Where was God? Right there in the furnace with them. He didn't take them out of the furnace, but was there with them. Same with us. During those times, He is saying, "Hang on, don't give up. I am doing a work in your life, removing the waste and dross, refining you so will come out pure as gold". He is there, at all times, just grab onto His hand and never let go.

Answer 9

ever read the "footprints" thing? just kidding.

It's tru that God seems farther away when we go thru life's problems. But the bible says that God is always there, never changing, and has done everyhitng he is going to do. So that means one thing for us: It is not God that is moving away from us, but it's us moving away from God.
Whether you believe it or not, even if you cry out to God in your time of hurt, you are mad at God, blame him and push him away.
The bible tells us that in all circumstances, that we are to praise God. And, most importnatly, have a heart of thanksgiving.
I have a friend who got in a serious ski accident, and he was all casted up, on his hospital bed, deemed never to function normally again. And God spoke to him; "thank me"
My friend was like "what? No way!" But God kept telling him, and gave him such versees as philipians 4:6. So He tried.
First he thanked God for the big things; "Thak you Lord for my family." "Thank you that i'm still alive" Then, after he ran out of that stuff, he started finding littler things to thank him for; "Thank you Lorod for the Jell-O I got for lunch today" "Thanks that I'm not sharing a room with someone who is screaming all the time."
And God began to heal him. It was because of his thankfulness, that God showed His faithfulness.

Answer 10

Because that's when he's drawing you nearer to him.
Its during those times that we are down crying on our knees that God is trying to get our attention. Sometimes he has to do those things to bring us back close to him.

Don't forget that Jesus wondering if he was being forsaken when he was dying on the cross...or Job who was a well to do man who had lost everything...or Moses who felt the task God was putting before him was too much for him to carry...

You know God didn't forget about Jesus so he most certaintly has not forgotten about you.
I can't really say for sure why you are experiencing what you are experiencing...that's God's business to know...but I do know that it means he's knocking at your door asking you to call out to him and trust in him. He wants to know how deep your love, faith, and devotion is to him.
Just continue to pray, read your bible, attend church, and fellowship with like minded people. And be faithful to God and know he has the best in store for you...sometimes you have to go through the storms in life before you can come out a stronger person. Sometimes those trials are what we need to grow and become stronger people who can minister and serve others in their trials as well.

*I wrote this assuming you are Christian... :-)