What do you do when God seems distant?

Question

I sometimes feel very lonely, like God is not listening or I can't connect. It's difficult even to pray. What can I do?

Please, answers from Christians only. I really don't need to hear "there is no God" when I know good and well there is. Thank you.

Answer 1

Know the feeling... the first thing to remember is that it is not God who is distant...it is you.

when this feeling occures try to remember the feelings of your first moments of Faith in God's promise... That promise is still the same.

You know all of the lines...be patient...God will not test you beyound...ect ect... and I know that at times you just do not want to hear those...

I will, however, tell you to pray.... I know, I know...you have already done all that too.... But do'nt fall into the trap of reciteing all the old standbys we all use in our prayers...at these bad times it is necessary to get down and rip out your gut and lay it befor God... tell him EXACTLY how you are feeling... whether it be sad or hurt or frightened or lonely or so sick in your soul you want to die right now.... what ever it is...just tell it to God just like you would to your best friend who would listen and take all the anger you could throw out and still be you friend... do not just say the nicy-nice prayer...tell it to God like it is with you...

It might be best if you could kind of isolate yourself when you feel you need to really let loose to God... shout if you need to ...scream if you need to... Then when you get it out... let God spread His Peace over you... He will wait untill you are done with your venting.... and He will be right there were He always is... right beside you to hold you up.

I have said a prayer for you... now Go to God

Answer 2

This is a hard question. I have had the same feeling, so many times, in the last year. He is there. He won't leave us. I have found, in my own personal life, when I feel he isn't there it is because he is leaving me on my own for awhile. That makes me need him more and I pray for the Holy Spirit to be present in my heart. I didn't know much about the Holy Spirit until I got a lot of spiritual counseling. The Holy Spirit will dwell in us, give us strength to continue, the power of prayer, and the desire to hear about Jesus in our lives. I also have CDs from my church that I listen to daily, sometimes the whole day because I need it. He hasn't deserted you!!! He is there. Maybe he is giving you some answers you would rather not have and you feel he isn't present because they aren't what you asked for. Many times his answer to our problems is "no". Usually, in fact, always, it is for our own good even if we can't accept that at the time. God Bless.

Answer 3

I know you said only Christians, but...
When I need to feel connected to the Divine, I go for a walk. I look at the trees the Gods made, I breath the air they made, I feel the sun shine down on me. I watch children play and witness the miracle of children and the love they have for everything, they way they can make friends in seconds. I pick up some litter or lend a helping hand to another human being. I hug a friend, phone my Mom and tell her I love her. I rejoice at my life and the world around me that the God and Goddess made with their love.

Answer 4

If you do not feel as close to God at certain times in your life, it is because you have moved, not Him. There may be some unconfessed sin in your life that is hindering your relationship with Him. An old evangelist once told me that when you don't feel as though God is hearing your prayers - keep praying. We need to pray through all the stuff and hangups in our lives to reach God. There is even a scripture that talks about Satan interferring with our prayers reaching God. We are also told in the Psalms to "enter His gates with thanksgiving, enter His courts with praise". Try beginning your prayers with praise and thankfulness for all He has done for you.

Answer 5

First you can tell the enemy to "GET LOST," you are with the big guy. I understand what you are saying.

Our feelings are very real...and very unreliable. God is there; even when you don't feel Him. Continue to pray and ask that Jesus reveal Himself to you. Tell Him about your loneliness. Yes, He knows...but He wants to hear it from you.

Don't forget to get into the word. Reading the Bible will help on so many levels. First, it helps you to rebuke the lies of the enemy. How can you know the difference in a lie or the truth if you don't know the truth? Jesus will also reveal Himself to you while you are reading it.

Try not to get caught up in "you must read this version of the Bible..." Find one that has the ease of reading and understanding. One you will enjoy and not get lost in...All versions have the "Spirit" of God's word.

My favorite to read is the NLT (New Living Translation). The King James Version has too much old English in it...I get lost in the translation...lol if you go to www.bible.com you can look up multiple verses, passages or chapters with different versions at the same time so you can compare. It's a great site.

Do you have a Church? In Heb. 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

It helps being around like minded people, especially in this day and age.

If you don't have a Church, find one. Find one that is Spirit filled and urges a relationship with Jesus and pushes away from religion.

Religion is man's way of trying to reach God. It usually has legalism, ceremonies and lots of traditions.

Relationship is God's way of reaching man, through Jesus Christ.

Please remember, you are not alone. Jesus is always there for you. John 14:17-19:
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Grace to you and God Bless...
((If you'd like, you can IM me)).

Answer 6

You know any good hymns?? My favourite is "The lord's my shepherd...." Try singing one.

When you try to pray, try getting away from distractions. I know this is difficult but its possible if you go to a church to pray. Spend some time alone and it will help.

You know God does not contact us directly but he has given us friends and family. Fall back on your closest friends and family and they will surely help you. Its easier to pray when you do not feel so lonely.

And God does listen. He listens all the time. And He will definitely hear you. I have gone through the same feeling many times and everytime He has shown me his mercy. He never fails. Have faith.

Answer 7

An analogy may be useful here. If you are a parent, when the child is young, you walk with them, holding them up. Then comes a time when you let go for a time and let them walk on their own for a while, to strengthen their legs. The child may think you have abandoned them and you may seem far away, but you are there the whole time, ready to snatch them up if they should fall. So it is with our walk with God, as we mature in Christ, God will step back and let you walk, not holding your hand the whole time, but He is there watching.
Another reason may be something in your life that has broken the fellowship, only you can answer that. Remember, God never moves, we do.
Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Sometimes, just listening is my answer. Getting away from the everyday busy work or home world. If you can truly listen, then maybe you'll hear Gods voice in a song, in a friend, a phone call. If you are needing to hear direction, then just take time to stop... and listen.

good luck

Answer 9

Linda,
Get closer to Him. You do this by prayer, fasting, giving to the church or to the poor.

I have an idea that works for me. Memorize scripture. And then tell Him what the scriptures says. He knows what it says, but what you are doing is opening up communication. you hear what you are saying, right? What does the scripture say? " Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." And what is faith to Him? It is the means for connecting to all His promises.

What is your promise today? You know, yesterdays faith is not enough for today. So what's your promise from God that you are ready to put your body on the line for?

Mine has been for about a week now:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not have wants.

That's it. It's as simple as that. I try not to get out of bed until I claim a promise from Him. He promised: " God is not a man to lie, neither the son of man to repent, that which He has spoken shall He not do? That which He has said, shall He not make it good?

He's YOUR God. He's the Lord Almighty:
Psalms 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

The King of Glory is Jesus Christ. The Lord strong and mighty in battle.

Answer 10

Precious Linda...there ARE times that it feels God is distant. We know very well that He never leaves us or foresakes us though. You have to have peace in knowing that. God always answers our prayers..."yes...no...or not now..." What you are asking for could be in a "not now" waiting pattern. Time to God is nothing...so, it's hard to imagine what He is thinking right now.

I felt this same way while trying to conceive our first baby...we waited a long 12 months, then got pg only to miscarry it. I was devastated and bitter, but kept praying, praying and praying. Six months later, we finally conceived our daughter. God's timing was best. I see that now. Why I had to go through the waiting and miscarriage, I don't know. I think I was making my love for wanting a baby deeper than my love for Him. Lesson: No idols before Him. Praise God for our answered prayer!

Please, don't lose heart. Ask God to give you patience and comfort right now and to reveal Himself in a powerful way (circumstances, others around you)...to where you feel His presence and movement in your life....I pray that for you, my sister in Christ..

Blessings to you right now...