I've sought, but cannot find God; what next?

Question

I firmly believe that Christianity is good and helps people. I've tried to become a believer and, intellectually, I can fully accept it and even revel in it. However, I don't feel a connection with God...ever. I pray and I feel foolish for talking to myself. What now?

This is directed towards actual Christians - not atheists or anyone else. I'm not here to debate the veracity or importance of Christianity - only the emotional aspect of it.

I've read plenty of books (including a lot of CS Lewis). I've read the Bible and I get those "good" feelings from time to time, but I still don't see God.

Answer 1

If our feelings are the gage of our relationship with God, we're all in trouble. I used to think I was lacking because I didn't have the feelings that some Christians talk about. I finally realized that is legalism; we're not saved by how we feel and they are not a gage of our relationship with God. Feelings come and go, but we are saved by the objective life and death of Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

I can relate to your religious dilemma, because I find myself in a similar situation. I don't come from a particularly religious family, and when I initially decided to become a Christian, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of faith I had. I felt like, even if I tried, I could not dismiss my faith in God because the connection I felt was very tangible, and very vivid. Now, however, I find that the connection has been lost, and I often feel like I'm going through the motions of faith, as opposed to actually living it, or believing in it. This has been really distressing for me.
I haven't found the answer myself, but I can only sympathize with you and share with you some of the things that have helped me in the past. If having faith is sustaining a relationship with God, them sometimes you have to put in a lot of effort to keep that relationship going, as you would with anything else. I understand your problem with prayer because it can be frustrating when you feel like you're in a dialogue with yourself. Don't force yourself to pray if it makes you feel foolish, but don't give up entirely. There are two really great books by C.S Lewis called "The Screwtape Letters" and "Mere Christianity". I recommend the first one highly. These are the books I read whenever I find myself confused about matters of faith. They're books written by a man who was an atheist for a large part of his life, and often debated with himself against the entire notion of faith, but then became a devout Christian later on in his life, and wrote some of the most prominent and timeless defenses of Christianity ever. Don't set out expecting that they'll convert you...just read them to know and understand someone else's interpretation of findng faith, and maybe you'll find something within those texts that will spark something for you. I read these books, and then spent a whole year internally debating the concepts they presented, and not praying at all. Then, a short while later, I just felt the need to pray because the connection that had been lost was suddenly there again, and it felt real. Of course, faith is a very personal and compex matter, and I'm not guaranteeing this will work for you. I'm not even sure this is helpful, or if I'm addressing my own continuous struggle with God by answering this question. But, I can really sympathize with you and can only hope that it will help you, even in the smallest of ways.

Answer 3

"Always knowing but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth". There is a difference between knowing the Truth and realizing it. Our Father loves us way too much to respond to simple intellectional acknowledgement. He wants us to know Him, and more importantly He want us to know how much he loves us.
I'm here to say the good news is that it is possible to deeply connect with God on a very real and tangible level. It is an experince that brings joy and comfort and lifelong assurance in your faith.
The truth is I have found that it was the most simple yet at the same time difficult thing to do. If you really want to connect with God however here is what you do.
Humble yourself and acknowledge and repent your sins. Forgive everyone who has ever done you wrong. Come before God as a child. Completely separate yourself from all worldly attachments. Basically at this point you come before God as if NOTHING else matters. You put nothing ahead of him not even your own life, it is at this point that He will reveal Himself and connect with you. You'll be filled with Godly wisdom and overflowing with His Spirit. You'll instantly see God's Word in a living context. You'll feel the power of His love and the electricity of His Spirt and it will dwell with you the rest of your life no matter how many times you fall and get back up. This is the plain truth and I hope you as my brother may find your way through the narrow gate.

Pease be with you,
fisher

Answer 4

God will find you if you read His Word--the Bible. As a help in understanding it, get yourself a Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation from Concordia Publishing House: www.cph.org. A book that I really like so far (I'm not finished with it yet) is called The Fire and the Staff by Klemet I. Preus from Concordia Publishing House. He writes in a very readable style. That would be a great help to you. I will pray for you also. The Lord's peace be with you.

Answer 5

I use to not believe now i am becoming catholic. I have witnessed things and felt things in the last year that many people don't. Don't feel foolish praying it may seem like you are talking to yourself, but God can hear you he can hear what you think. just don't give up on it keep praying if the connection came to me a non believer it can definitely come to just be true to your self, and truly realize God is there and something will happen.

Answer 6

I think you are going through what most Christians go through when they first accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

They feel uneasy praying and they find difficult reading and understanding the bible.

What next? You need to move out in FAITH.

The bible says that head knowledge is useless. Even the devils know who God is and tremble with fear.

You need to transfer that head knowledge to your heart and move out in FAITH.

Having all the head knowledge that all the safety measures have been taken by the Bungee company is not going to make me jump off a bridge with a cord tied to my legs if I do not take up the courage and make a determined effort.

If you say that you have understood Christianity intellectually - CONGRATULATIONS! Now take the next step - move out in FAITH.

Believe it when you pray. Believe it when you read the bible. And gradually, you will find that connection with God.

Answer 7

"I've tried to become a believer" - this statement stands out to me. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, believe that he died to pay for your sins and confessed your sins to God? If you have, then the next step is to get "plugged in" to a good, bible-teaching church.

I would also suggest getting some Christian CD's. I personally don't care for hymns all that much, but I do like worship music - there is a difference. Mostly I listen to modern Christian music. There is Christian music in every type. If you go to a Christian bookstore, you can listen to demo's to find ones you like. (You can also find demo's online if you know the names of bands.) My personal favorites are Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Nicole C. Mullen and Avalon, just to name a few. I hope this helps and you can email me if you need to.

Answer 8

Christianity is based on historical facts, not feelings. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is an established fact attested by Jews, Romans, and earliest believers.

Keep reading the Bible daily; it is written, according to John 20:31, "so that you may believe that Jesus is The Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name." Include regular readings of the Old Testament, which captures for us the history of the Hebrew journey of faith. "Now all these things happened unto [the Jews] for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." Learn from the trials of Israel and the early Christians. But above all, hitch your faith to the facts, not your own feelings.

Answer 9

you would find benefit from studying with Jehovahs witneses. They have a book called Draw close to God, and it is a really beautiful book discussing the many facets of gods personality. To feel close to some one you actually have to get to know them on a personal level, as you wouold with a friend... have churches helped you do that?
when you want to get to know someone... whats the first thing you ask them....."What is your name" God and Lord are titles, just like sir and mrs and Mr or man or woman.... would you feel close to some one than called you man all the time totally ignoring the fact that you have a name?? Same with God... have a look at Psalms 83:18. Gods name is Jehovah. If it says Lord or God, check out the preface in your bible, if you read it, you will see clearly that they have acknowledged removing Gods name from the translation. it can also appear as YHWH this is the hebrew version of Jehovah.
Ask yourself, if your church is using a bible which removes the use of Gods name... there fore removing a chance of developing a personal relationship with him.... is it the true religion??? worth a thought dont you think?

Answer 10

This is a very personal, internal and philosophical question.

The only thing I can tell you is that finding God is not an easy, nor is it a quick thing if you haven't had him in your life previously. You need to have faith that he does exist. When you pray, don't think of it as you're talking to yourself. Talk to him like you would talk to your father or a relative you love. Don't talk to him as if you're talking to yourself.

If you believe in the structure of Christianity but not in what it was founded in, there is definitely a problem there. Not because you don't believe in God, but because you're using a lifestyle to 1/10 of its capacity. It's like using a dump truck as a limo (horrible analogy, but it's what's in my head).

You need to do the following:

1. Talk to a priest or your local Christian authority figure.
2. Look deep in yourself and ask yourself whether or not Chistianity is really for you. Maybe being just spiritual is best (like non-denominational).
3. Ask yourself why you don't believe in God. There is a reason -- lack of faith, having a more scientific outlook etc.

These things need to be done before you take your journey to look for God.