When You Feel Far From God

D E V O T I O N A L

I sat in church recently, listening to the worship, watching people around me with their hands raised and eyes closed, and I felt it.

That quiet thought.

"Why do I feel so far from God right now?"

Nothing was wrong on the surface. Life was busy, sure, but not falling apart. I was singing the words, saying the prayers, doing the "right" things. Yet inside, there was a distance I could not explain.

Maybe you have been there too. You remember times when God felt close. When His presence felt almost tangible. When prayer felt natural and Scripture felt alive.

Then there are seasons like this. You still believe, but you feel numb. You still show up, but your heart feels quiet. You wonder if you did something wrong, or if somehow, He quietly slipped away.

Here is the honest truth. If you have ever felt that way, you are not a bad Christian. You are a human one.

Psalm 13 begins with a question that sounds a lot like what we are afraid to say out loud:

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?" Psalm 13:1

David loved God deeply, yet even he felt that distance at times. The beautiful thing is that he did not pretend otherwise. He brought his confusion and ache directly to God.

God is not offended by your honesty. He is moved by it.

Feeling far from God does not mean He has left you. Sometimes it means you are tired. Sometimes it means you are walking through a valley and cannot see clearly. Sometimes it simply means your emotions have not caught up with the truth yet.

Because the truth is this: "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." Psalm 145:18

Even when you do not feel Him, He is near. Even when your prayers feel weak, He hears. Even when your heart feels distant, He has not moved.

You are allowed to tell Him, "God, I feel far from You." You are allowed to sit in the silence and still be loved. You are allowed to be honest and still be held.

Sometimes the way back is not a huge spiritual moment. It is a quiet, simple turning. One real prayer. One slow reading of a verse. One whispered, "I miss You. Be near again."

He already is.

Much Love & Blessings,

Ramzi

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E N C O U R A G E M E N T - I N - A C T I O N

Family Corner

If God feels distant, invite Him into something simple, not just the big moments. Pray over a meal, a conversation, or even while you are cleaning. Ask Him to make His presence known in ordinary places. Sometimes the sacred is found in the dishes, not just the devotional.

Relationship Insight

Tell a trusted friend or spouse if you feel spiritually dry. Sometimes saying it out loud breaks the shame and reminds you that others have been there too. Ask them to pray with you, even briefly. You do not have to carry spiritual distance in silence. Confession brings it into the light where healing happens.

Mental Health Minute

When the thought comes, "I am far from God," gently respond with, "My feelings change. His presence does not." You can even write that on a note where you will see it. Your emotions are real, but they are not always reliable narrators of spiritual truth.

Financial Wisdom

If you feel alone in the pressures you are carrying, bring your actual numbers, fears, and needs before God. Pray specifically. Trust that He cares about this part of your life too. Financial stress can make everything feel distant, including God. But He is present even in the spreadsheet.

Physical Health

Your body and soul are connected. Exhaustion, stress, or pain can make God feel distant. Give yourself rest where you can. Go for a short walk or sit quietly and breathe. Ask God to meet you there, without forcing a feeling. Sometimes spiritual dryness is actually physical depletion in disguise.

Consider this your wake-up call.

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"God's nearness is not a feeling you earn. It's a promise He keeps."

P.S. If you are reading this while feeling spiritually numb or distant, know that God is not surprised by your honesty. He is not disappointed in your struggle. He is near, even now, waiting for you to whisper His name.

Lord,

You know there are days when You feel far, even though I know in my head that You are near. Thank You that Your presence is not based on my emotions. Thank You that You stay when my heart feels quiet and my faith feels thin.

Draw me close again. Restore what feels distant. Help me be honest with You and trust that You are still holding me, even when I do not feel much at all Teach me to find You in simple moments this week.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

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