Does God feel distant?

There are times in life when God feels distant.

You are not alone! Throughout the ages, people have felt that God has abandoned them.

King David, along with several others, expressed these feelings throughout the Psalms. In those moments we cry out and beg God to help us “feel” or experience His presence. David wrote in Psalm 13:1, “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?”

Just like David, you may be wondering where God is at in a struggle or why He seems silent.

If you’re struggling with life, consider leaning into the Psalms. A simple Google search unveils a number of Psalms that are honest expressions of doubt, fears, or complaints. Read them. Tell God your thoughts. Ask Him to calm your spirit.

Life’s difficulties is not the only reason God may feel distant. Unconfessed sin breaks your relationship with God. When David committed the sin of adultery, he felt abandoned by God (see Psalm 51).

Our feelings can be deceptive. When you feel God is distant, focus on biblical truth. When you know what God has said in the Bible, your faith in Him will deepen. That’s something you will discover when reading through the Psalms and other passages where people just like you have struggled.

Some believe God will not “put more on you than you can handle.” That’s not true. God created us to worship and adore Him. That attitude reflects one of self-reliance rather than genuine faith. Paul wrote,

“… We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8b-9).

When God feels distant, keep seeking Him. Those who seek God will experience His peace!