There are times when when we get the giddy feeling from being close to God. You flow in praise, worship and prayers. You have diverse encounters, experience testimonies causing you to be certain of God’s nearness. And there are other times when the aforementioned are almost the complete opposite of what you experience. God seems far, you are not getting answers to your prayers, your word-study and prayer life are becoming mechanical and you don’t feel His presence like you used to. If this sounds like you, keep on reading. This post is for you.
God is Ever-Present
Dear Friend, God, your Creator and Heavenly Father might feel far. But there’s good news. He isn’t far. Our God is ever present. And also, God is not a feeling. He is Spirit.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 NIV
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Let the above scriptures marinate in your soul. God will never leave you. Regardless of how you feel, God will never forsake you. Let your emotions or feelings not lure you into thinking that God has abandoned you. Great men in the Bible felt forsaken by God at some point in their lives- King David, Job, Elijah, and even our perfect example, Jesus. This feeling of aloneness isn’t a sin and it isn’t necessarily caused by one. Permit me to categorize it as a perspective. The silence of God isn’t the same as the absence of God. Even when Jesus was crucified on the cross, God was very present. The resurrection of Jesus Christ and the joy of salvation is all the proof you need.
The question now is – when we feel far from God, what can we do?
What To Do About The Feeling
- Go to God’s Word: The written word of God is the voice of God. You can’t hear His voice? Read The Word. He’s been speaking all day long. Your feeling of aloneness is a fact but God’s promise to never leave you nor forsake you is the truth. Do not trade the truth for a mere feeling. Feelings will come and go but God’s word will remain unchanged. When you start feeling that type of way, speak God’s word to yourself, meditate on it and share it.
- Do some heart check: A wise man said, “when God seems far, guess who moved?” You and I know the answer! It’s man who moves. May I ask? How’s your heart? Is a sin, concern, weight, need, person, or thing taking God’s space in your life? If the answer is yes, God will surely seem far. This is because whatever you focus on takes your attention. God wants to be closer to you than air is to your nostrils. Hence, we need to give Him our full focus and trust.
- Get your praise on: There’s something about giving God a sacrifice of praise! When we complain, circumstances remain, but when we praise and worship our King, we will be raised! (Habakkuk 3:17-19, Psalm 67:5-7)
Faith over Feelings
Since we know our feelings are not final, there is a need to keep building our faith. Friend, our greatest need as Christians is to live a word-centered life. Let your living be guided by God’s Word. Make it a habit. The more you fill yourself with the Word, the less you feel concerned or disturbed by mere feelings.
So now, I warmly ask that you drop your reading device and whisper these words, “Heavenly Father, thank you for being ever present. Please, help me to remain aware of your presence. I love you.”
Our Father loves you even more and I love you too.
Remain rooted in God.
Till I write to you next time.
With love and passion,
