Sometimes people feel disconnected from God. I hear people pray, “Lord, why are you so distant?” If you read the Psalms you’ll see a cycle of appeals to God such as Psalm 10:1, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”.
What does this say about God and us?
This says more about us and our insufficient perspective than it does about God. Our Christian theology affirms a belief in God’s “omnipresence”. Omnipresence means present everywhere at the same time. He has been that way for all eternity. He isn’t contained by this universe (His creation). Yet, he permeates every inch of it.
That means He’s there in your bedroom, in the bathroom, in your car, at your work, with you on vacation, and with you in times of joy and in times of immense pain and heartache.
Three reasons He seems so far away
So, if He is so close, why does He sometimes seem so far away? I think this stems from three sources.
1. Many times, we treat God as if He is there for OUR benefit (like a magic genie)…and when we have no compelling needs, we forget about Him and what he wants from us. Just listen to your own prayers for a moment. Are they praise and thanksgiving, or mostly requests for our own benefit? And when our prayers go unanswered, we feel like God isn’t listening or aware of our existence.
2. We incorrectly feel we are worthy of His constant presence. Yet God is Holy and hates our sin. If we embrace our sin and continue to sin without self restraint, aren’t we repelling His very presence? When we give up control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and correct us, He is faithful to enter our lives and make His presence known.
3. We are too busy for God. We are busy bodies going here and there and don’t give God our time. Jesus regularly went off by himself to commune with the Father. To feel God’s presence, we must slow down and set aside intentional time to connect with Him.
What can you do about it?
I want to leave you with a few final thoughts. Whether you are in tune with His constant presence or not, God is right there…always.
How would your life change if you LIVED your BELIEF that God is HOLY, and EVERYWHERE at ALL TIMES (e.g. You are always in His presence), and that He LOVES you, and that unrepentant sin is what separates you from Him?
My prayer for you is that you praise God for His presence, ask what He wants from you, slow down, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you.
God Bless.
PS – In addition to feeling disconnected from God, sometimes we feel disconnected from our own families. If you struggle connecting with your earthly relationships, I’d encourage you to check out the interactive Relationship Journal at RealFamilyConnections.com. It can really help.
Hi i think your 3 reasons r a gud answer to people who r struggling with or against god i do believe that any1 of u out there weather u r in his kingdom or not this can benefit all an its right all of us can relate to 2 at least 1 of mr r.brad whites 3 reasons even if u just read 1 u mite b seeing you
This is really a good one reasons 1 and 2 are so real i felt you were talking to me…God bless you brad.
Thanks olamide. I pray this message is a blessing to you.
“Lord, why are you so distant?” Quite simply…because there IS no god. There is no being watching over us. People hate feeling alone and forgotten; rejected. They believe in this being that knows everything about them and traces their every move…like an obsessed girlfriend constantly checking your cell phone to see who you’ve been chatting with. It is normal to feel distant from this Christian being because that is a sign that your mind WANTS to be distant, it wants to be free and finally think with reason. It is ok to embrace the truth: that there is no god but it is ok…life will continue with that knowledge, and continue with an open, free mind.
God loves you more than you will ever know.
I have to agree. I was brought up Catholic so I was basically forced into all the beliefs of the religion. Like you said how can one being possibly know the thoughts, feelings, actions etc. of EVERY person on earth? I don’t get it.
I highly suggest reading “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey Also read Ephesians 4: 4-6 Think about it this way when Jesus was baptized the holy Spirit came and dwelled with him when Jesus died for all of humanity Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of the father at this point he sent the Holy Spirit down to cover all of humanity. The Holy Spirit is not a singular individual. It is a spirit, so it is in all things. It flows through us like a river. It is part of our DNA ..Without it we wouldn’t live. I picture it as the oxygen we breathe.
Only an unwise person will say in his heart that there is no God
I assure you there is a God. I was fortunate enough to have interaction with him in the spirit realm.. The good news is rather you believe or not it dose’nt change the fact that he is your creator and he sent his son to give us life and correct out false beliefs and he is faithful to the end. In 5 years you may have a whole different outlook so be prepared. Blessings, Daniel
Would love to hear more about your experience in the Spirit realm if you don’t mind sharing
God is real, even you can experience Him. Here is a simple test,it will work if you really honestly, sincerely want to know for sure He exists, just tell Him to reveal Himself to you. I mean, what kind of God would He be if He couldn’t reveal Himself to a person who sincerely wants to experience Him. He will show up, and show off.
You’re wrong.. But that’s your opinion. This world and universe is too big for there to not be a God. Open your eyes
So basically you love yourself, your ego, and your own sense of “free-mindedness”. Don’t presume that you can speak for anyone else or make assumptions about what they truly desire.
I’m 19 and I just joined the army, I’ve been so busy all the time and I found myself lost and felt distended from the lord I imdetly began to research and wonder what I was doing wrong, this helped me a lot thank you so much God bless you
Busyness can aid us in feeling separated from God. I can relate wholeheartedly. I know God loves us more than we can know. He never leaves us no matter where we are. This article was a blessing to me and I find refuge in God’s Word.
God is good to us at all times. Even if we sin and ignore Him, He is always by our side. After all He sent his son to die for us so that we can have everlasting life. Oh what an amazing God we serve.
One of the best books I have ever read to help me to pray unceasingly, and thus stay connected to God, is a short book entitled Praying Our Experiences. One thing you will never run out of is experience. We all live from experience to experience. The book teaches you to honestly reflect on your experience, find the word of God in it, thus activating your Christian philosophy, and turn it into prayer. Do it often enough and it will become a habit that causes your heart to continually surge toward God. The Bible is filled with examples of people praying their experiences like Job and Mary. Sometimes we do this unconsciously. Do it consciously and you will find that every aspect of life can be an occasion for turning to God.
I highly suggest reading “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey
Thanks for this. However I got to this page because I feel disconnected whenever I tried to pray.I am looking for a Solution. Naturally I felt some connections anytime I was praying but totally just stopped when I visited a man of God that prayed for me. I am scared now. I have been struggling to flow in prayer since then. Please help!!!
God is awesome I felt His presence a lot very obviously snd with no doubt throughout my prayers and time spent with Him. He’s is so loving father. I have that feeling of separation recently that’s why I popped into this website. I still know He loves me, i think this is just part of the spirtual path. It is not Joy and Peace all the time. Pray for me.
THANKS FOR THAT.DON`T ALSO FORGET WE MAY GET SEPARATED FROM GOD AS A RESULT OF CHOICE.
THANKS FOR THAT.DON`T ALSO FORGET WE MAY GET SEPARATED FROM GOD AS A RESULT OF CHOICE.
GOD IS LOVE. HE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US.
God almighty is Love, he is not a God of punishment but of love for he is Love. Knowledge and reverence of him gives us wisdom and understanding. The truth cannot be told as to be understood but not be believed. To think that the Bible is the greatest book ever written, that it is the basis of all worldly believes and ideas, that it contains the mind and will of God is an underestimation. The answers to questions of the soul, mind, body, spirit and heart can only be found in the word. He is almighty, he is wonderful, he deserves praise and glory, without him the enemy may swallow you. Delight yourself in the lord and you will have your hearts desire. when the Lord frees you not only are you free indeed but you are free in deeds. your behavior and appetites become a measure of your freedom. peace be upon us all. for those of you who are infants in the faith like myself, please read Ephesians 6. Know your enemy and know your God.
Honestly I know there is a God, I used to feel his presence on a regular basics , I just lost my way somewhere down the line. Now I feel so disconnected from everything and Him To explain what I am meaning is like this : I feel like I have been in a coma for 10 years and have just woke up and nothing seems the same everything has changed except for me . I just don’t know what to do , I feel like that because I turned my back on God by allowing the worldly thing to consume me , that I lost him and that nothing I can do. I guess when others tell their repentance stories and what they have felt , I feel because I didn’t feel what they felt or experience God didn’t forgive me . Why Can’t I hear him or feel him any more ? What am I doing Wrong? Help Please I need God back in My life , I miss Him Dearly .
Elizabeth, you are not alone, and no-God has not forgotten you. Remember this: God is not a feeling…although that is often how we experience Him. But even when the feeling fades or comes and goes, that isnt the same thing as Him coming or going. He is still right there with you. We live very distracted lives, and when we focus on ourselves, it is easy to lose sight of Him. So, you asked for help. My suggestion is straightforward: read the Bible and pray regularly. God speaks through what he has already communicated (the Bible) and through prayer…in addition to through others and yes…our feelings. (Just not exclusively through feelings). God has forgiven you and that can’t be taken away.
Thank you so much for replying to my Question, I have been reading the bible and Praying as you have requested and slowly but surely I am findinf my way back. thank again do much.
I found the way to feel connected again with God is to do what you are doing now, reading the good book and praying. When I begin feeling as though I am losing my connection, I open Mathew and absorb Jesus’s words. However, what is also really effective for myself, is going for a walk and listening to testimonies or sermons via podcast. It really energises my faith, and slows my brain down to allow me to be grateful and thankful for God’s amazing mercies. God bless you and all.
Thank you for this post,I have been born again all my life,suddenly one morning I woke up doubting everything I know,doubting if God is real,Jesus ,the bible I want to go back to wat I believe I want to feel Gods love again And after the birth of my son ,I have been struggling with intrusive thoughts I need help Will I ever be myself again???
Sounds like anxiety. I think the key is to not give into your fears(of God or whatever) always challenge them,ask for forgiveness and forgive yourself,too.