Do you ever feel like God is distant?
I know I do. There are days when I sit down to read the Bible and pray, and God just feels far away. The truth about the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit can feel more like a concept than a reality.
If you’ve ever had days—or even seasons—like that, you’re not alone. The question is: what do we do when God feels distant?
There’s no magic-bullet formula, but here are three things that help me remember that God is with me, even when I feel alone.
1. Seek Him
When I feel distant from God, I’m reminded by his Word that this is exactly when I need to seek him most. The psalms are full of reminders that when we turn to God in his Word, the Spirit assures us of his nearness:
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Psalm 73:28)
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:18–19)
One of the Spirit's great gifts is to unite us to Christ and remind us that we are God's children (Romans 8:15-16). Even when our feelings waver, the Spirit is there reminding us that God really is near and we really do belong to him.
2. Examine My Heart
Sometimes, what feels like distance is actually disobedience. The Bible warns that unconfessed sin can hinder our intimacy with God. So when I feel far from him, I take the opportunity to stop and ask:
Is there an area of my life where I’m ignoring his Word?
Are there sins I need to bring into the light before God?
The good news is that Jesus has already paid for our sin, and our loving Father invites us to come to him honestly. By his Spirit, he helps us not only confess our sin but grow through it.
3. Gaze at the Cross
Ultimately, the best way to draw near to God is to remember what he has already done to draw near to us.
At the cross, Jesus—the eternal Son of God—gave his life so that we who were once far away could be brought near (Ephesians 2:13). Through his resurrection, Jesus gives us his Spirit to daily remind us that intimacy and nearness with God is already our reality.
Even when we feel distant, how we feel isn’t the full picture. The truth is:
We have a Father who longs for us to seek him.
We have a brother in Jesus who died to bring us near.
We have the Holy Spirit who assures us that we are never forgotten and never forsaken.
Grace & peace,
Paul