I don’t know if it’s the weather, hormones, or what, but I have felt distant from God lately. It's been hard for me to feel like I am connecting with him or even wanting to connect with him. In times like this, I have to remember it is not what I feel but what I know. I know God is meeting with me daily. I know God cares for me. I know God is bigger than my doubts, emotions, and shortcomings. We can quickly say, “well, God must not be real,” or “God must not care about me,” simply because we do not feel a strong presence every day. We compare ourselves to how others are meeting with God and think something is wrong with us or we are not important enough when it is entirely normal to have low moments in our walk with God.
Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Moses said these words to Joshua because he knew he would take over for him as leader of Isreal one day soon. He wanted Joshua to know that if he ever felt insecure, underqualified, or doubtful, God would go ahead of him and never leave him. This is true for us as well; despite our feelings, we have a God who has promised to be with us and make way for our future.
Above, I mentioned that throughout our lives, we might all have moments where we feel further from God. Sometimes, we can let guilt or shame in those moments prevent us from working through it and even unintentionally adding to the distance. In the past, I have kept this feeling secret, afraid to admit what I was going through, but instead, I found greater success when I told trusted people. I asked for prayer and talked through it, and I no longer felt so alone.
It can also be helpful to take every day at a time. I kept praying and even talking to God about the distance I felt. God already knows our every thought, so there is no reason to hide what we are going through. You may also need to find a new way to connect with God, perhaps through his creation, rest, or blasting worship music in the car. Whatever it is, God is all around us everywhere we go; we simply need to recognize him. You can take a quiz linked below to find ways you might connect with him.
When you feel the distance, show yourself grace, and understand we live in a fallen world and that can weigh on any believer’s heart. Surround yourself with people who love him, songs that praise him, content that encourages your relationship with him, and actions that reflect him. He is with you and has already gone before you.
Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”