WHY DOES GOD FEEL FAR AWAY?

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

WHY DOES GOD FEEL FAR AWAY? 

(Jer 23:23) “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? 

There are many times when a child of God will feel far away from God.   When God used to be closer than a brother why does He sometimes feel like a stranger?  What causes this feeling and how can a believer get that sense of nearness back?  Let’s examine this important question in the light of scripture so that sense of intimacy with Christ may be reestablished in our lives.   

First of all we must ask ourselves if there is a blockage in our spiritual life that is causing the feeling that God is occupying another universe.  Consider these verses: (Isa 59:1-2)  Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.  (Psa 66:18) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.  Is there something in our lives that is grieving the Holy Spirit whereby we will sense a distance between the us and the Lord?  (Eph 4:30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  If so, let’s fess up and get it right so we can feel right!  Nothing is as important as staying close to God.  Whatever we have to let go let’s do it!!   

Another reason for God feeling far away is perhaps our emotional state has been centering on the negative.  It could be that we have let doubt and fear take over our lives.  Maybe we have been overtaken by the banditos of anxiety or depression that have robbed us of the blessings God has intended for us.  When we are low on faith it seems we are high on that sense of being abandoned and lacking the presence of God.  Faith puts us in touch with the Lord.  Just a small mustard seed of it can make us good-to-go.  When we express faith it turns everything around. We tell God we believe in him and with His help we are going to stop being so full of bad vibrations that kill the sensation of intimacy with Him.  (Mark 5:36)…“Do not be afraid; only believe.” 

Consider also that sometimes we are too attuned to feelings in the Christian life.  The Christian life sometimes boils down to sheer faith.  Maybe it’s just a trial you are going through that deprives you of that Christian bubble you have been in and have started to rely upon.  Pop!  Now you must learn to operate by motion instead of emotion.  (2 Cor 5:7) For we walk by faith, not by sight.  It could just be that the Lord is testing you if you will follow Him without the goose bumps and giddy excitements that keep us on Cloud 7.  When all that blows away will you really follow Jesus?  (Mat 13:21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Our faith is supposed to be deeper than that!   

Here’s a promise for all who desire to come closer: (Jms 4:8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  May the nearness of God be yours today!   

Louie