My realationship with Jesus is practically gone :[[?

Question

What can I do?
I used to have such an amazing relationship with Him.
But rapidly over the past few months it's gone to nothing.
I pray and pray and it doesn't seem like He's there.
It truly makes me sick to my stomache.
Ugh.

Answer 1

Don't worry. In some ways it is a normal part of the development of faith.

I assume you are despondant because you have no more emotional sensation of Him being there when you pray. That's o.k.

C.S. Lewis talks a lot about this in his book The Screwtape Letter's. He notes how people sometime confuse the emotional experience of worship with worship itself. As long as the prayer and worship are truely there you are fine.
However, be of good cheer. You pray and pray and you are concerned about this. You are doing the right thing. God will honor this.

Again from the Screwtape Letters, talking about God's relationship to a Christian:

"He is prepared to do a liitle over-riding at the begining.He will set them off with communication of his presence which, though faint, seems great to them, with emotional sweetness, and easy conquest over temptation....Sooner or later He withdrawls, if not in fact, at least from their concious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature to stand up on its own legs- to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish..... [During this time we grow] ...Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those that please Him best...He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles...[The Devil's] cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."

For space I had to summerize parts. But basically it means, keep praying. Keep reading your Bible. Keep holding on to your faith. It is during the dry periods when God seems so distant, that you in fact grow closer toward him.

Answer 2

I wonder which bible you read? I pray you read the KJV - it is the only one that doesn't come from corrupted manuscripts, and thus it is the only one that has the anointing and power of God on it.

It may be that your fellowship has suffered due to this very same reason. I don't even go to church anymore because of the use of new versions. When I first got born again in 1988, most everyone read the KJV. The scripture memorization was so natural and believers would quote the word to each other. Over the years everything has become so convoluted - the power and witness seems to have left the body of Christ as a result.

I know this answer will not be smiled upon, but I need to stay honest about it. My only real fellowship is online anymore and that's pretty sad. But I do want to tell you that I have gained more revelation by asking God questions directly and receiving my answers from him. And all that he has shown me is absolutely within the framework of his holy Word. I am not talking weirdo stuff here - it is all completely scriptural.

The only other thing I can tell you is that we all have had "dry" spells - this is nothing to worry about. But the only way to get out of the dry spell is to offer yourself anew each morning, knowing that no works you can do can ever impress - ask God questions that you've always had and believe he will answer you in his time. You'd be surprised at how willing he is to answer even the seemingly most trivial questions about things you'be wondered about. He loves for people to want to know him and to understand his Word. And he WILL answer you. Just believe it and don't expect that the answer will necessarily come instantly, but KNOW that it will come. He's faithful.

I wish you well - if you ever need to talk about anything or you would like me to pray for you, let me know. It is an honor to be there for a fellow believer, to lift up one who is bowed down. God bless you richly. Shalom!

Answer 3

Been there. Jesus was human, remember. Jesus is dead. Your relationship is with God, as Jesus wanted. Jesus may have helped you get there, but now you must do what God wants YOU to do. Jesus did God's will. You must follow His example. Jesus will still be there for you.

Trading prayer for blessings has to stop. That may be OK for some, but not you. God gave you a brain and wants you to use it, not pray. Hard work, but there you are. You will see that once you start working your brain, God will help you.

You need to grow your brain to do good. That is not easy. There are many sides to every issue. Understanding God's will for you means you need to be strong in your own mind but also hungry for other opinions that you can test and expand your own by.

Jesus has given you all you need: (1) love God above all things and (2) love your neighbor as yourself (note: not more than yourself, none of this sacrifice nonsense, Jesus took care of that for us).

Answer 4

Withdrawal symptoms. It fills a void in your mind that you can't seem to fill.

I know this will seem like strange advice, especially coming from an atheist like myself, but please consider this. Focus on being Jesus-like rather than praying for Jesus to give you something. Various intelligent people throughout history have found happiness in using Jesus as a source of inspiration rather than a source of salvation. You might find your relationship returning when you have proven to yourself that his teachings matter in your own personal life.

Answer 5

Well what makes you think you had a close relationship with Him before ? what has changed. God and Jesus do not change, they never have or will. So you must have done something, pray for the answer.
em me if i can help.

Answer 6

"What woman, if she has ten silver pieces and loses one, does not light a lamp and sweep the house in a diligent search until she has retrieved what she lost? And when she finds it, she calls in her friends and neighbors to say, 'Rejoice with me! I have found the silver piece I lost.' I tell you, there will be the same kind of joy before the angels of God over one repentant sinner." Luke 15: 8-10

Your silver is not lost, simply misplaced. Be faithful in your diligence and you will find, and be found, once more.

Answer 7

I hear you, I remember when I was young I just couldn't wait to read Bible , pray , sing, etc. Now I just feel cold hearted towards it and disappointed. i'm not sure we lose our relationship with Him though, but I definitely think it goes through some pretty different stages than what I originally thought. Hang in there, if He's not merciful, we're all sunk.

Answer 8

It's a valid question and a good one.

I'd ask God to show you what is blocking the relationship with him. My guess will be that the first thing that God shows you will be what is in the way. Far too often, we struggle in this area because there are things we have not been willing to turn over to him.

Answer 9

If something has changed, He is not the one who moved .... He is right where He has always been - waiting there with outstretched arms of love and forgiveness.

Search your heart for anything that may have come between Him and your heart.

Read His Word, Pray and Seek Him and His will ..... He will respond!

Answer 10

Why should it make you sick? I guess it would depend on the events leading up to this. I felt the same way, but instead of beating my head against a wall and trying to force myself to believe a book other people assured me was real, I decided to embrace a new faith.