What Can I Do When I Feel Far from God?
By Vivian Bricker
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” – Acts 17:26-27
There have been many times when I have felt far from God. Rather than feeling a close bond with Him, I feel as though He is a million miles away. If you are also struggling with feeling far from God, know that you are not alone. Most Christians have felt far from God at least once in their walk with Him. This can be due to various factors; however, there is a remedy for this feeling and it is found in God.
It is common to feel far from God, yet we never truly are far from Him. Feeling far from God is a feeling—it is not a fact. As believers, sometimes we have to rely on what we know rather than what we feel. Feelings can come and go, yet facts never change. There will be many times that we have to rely on what we know rather than what we feel.
God is greater than our feelings and just because we don’t feel Him doesn’t mean He is not there. God is always with us and always walking beside us. He is never far from any of His children as He is just a prayer away. Sin can often make us run from God, which can make God feel distant from us. When this happens, we have to know it is not God who is far from us, but that we are far from Him.
Just as Adam and Eve hid in the Garden after they were aware of their nakedness and sin (Genesis 3:7-24), we also run and hide from God when we have sin in our own lives. If this is a possibility for you, rest in the peace that you can repent and turn back to Him. After repentance and asking God for forgiveness, you might not feel very far from Him anymore. You could feel closer to Him than ever before.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As Paul says in Acts 17:26-27, God is not far from any of us. God appointed times in history and marked our boundary lands in order for humankind to seek Him out. With proper searching, God wants us to reach out and find Him as He is not far from each of us. God did not create the earth and everything in it just to leave His creation abandoned. Even though this is a popular idea among agnostics, it is not true.
God created the earth and everything in it in order to reveal His glory. Through general and special revelation, God hoped some of us would take notice and reach out to Him. As believers, who already know the Lord, He wants us to know that we can always reach out to Him. There will never be a day when God will be far from us.
The Lord is by our side through every difficult day. Feeling far away from God is common, yet He wants us to reach out to Him. Whenever you feel you are far from God, first remember that feelings are not facts. After you have reminded yourself of this truth, turn to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you know that you are with Him and to also reveal any sin in your life that could be making you run from God.
Give the Lord time and He will give you answers. Through reading the Bible and personal conviction, God will instruct you. Even if sin is what is causing you to feel far from God, rest in the knowledge that it is not terminal. You can turn to God, ask for His forgiveness, and He will forgive you (1 John 1:9). Through God’s forgiveness and active repentance, you will not feel as far from God anymore.
If you are feeling far from God due to depression or feelings of deep sorrow, know that God is still with you in this dark valley. Depression can be very difficult and isolating, yet God is sitting with you in the pain. When we are going through depression, it can make us feel alone and as though nobody cares about us. These are lies of the depression that we must combat and fight against.
God never leaves us alone, and He loves us without conditions (Romans 8:37-39). Run to Him instead of away from Him. He will surround you with His love, peace, and protection. With time and prayer, you won’t feel as far from God anymore. He loves you, and that will never change.
- Do you feel far from God today? If so, what can you do to help you feel closer to Him?
- God is not far from each of us. Does resting in this promise bring you comfort? Why or why not?
- How can you rely on what you know rather than how you feel?
Further Reading:
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