Our guest today on the Everyday Faith Podcast is R.D. Saunders, a husband, father, and current president of Ohio Christian University. During our interview, we learned R.D.’s story of meeting Jesus, how he starts each day with his belief in God, and how you can connect with God, even when He feels far away.
What to Do If You Feel Far From God
When you feel far from God, it’s helpful to remember that nothing is wrong with you: feeling far from God is a natural part of faith. The Bible is full of characters who went through extremely difficult challenges and often wondered where God was in the middle of their pain. Stories from the Bible like Job, David, Joseph, and even Jesus himself are examples of people who felt far from God. Even then, they offered prayers to God when they felt distant from Him. Thankfully, the Bible offers clear steps and spiritual guidance to help you feel connected with God in every season.
1. Pray with honesty: During our interview with R.D., we learned about a troubling time in his life when his son was battling alcohol addiction. R.D. prayed earnest prayers and was very vulnerable with God about how disappointed he felt. After crying out to God, God did the miraculous, and R.D.’s son made it to rehab. His son is now sober, fully recovered, and helping others on their journey towards freedom from alcohol addiction.
Learn how to grow your prayer life with our FREE E-book: Let’s Talk About Prayer: Simple Steps to Connect with God
“God has earned the right to be trusted. He will not fail us.” - R.D. Saunders
God became a man and came to the earth He created to die for our sins. Jesus was perfect, sinless, and completely pure. Because of His love for us, He suffered so that we might be whole. When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, He not only conquered sin, but He also defeated the devil! Jesus is the good news for the world. And sometimes, when you feel far from God, simply meditating on the cross and His sacrifice for you can help you to feel close to Him.
Have you received Jesus into your heart yet? If not, today is your day! Learn how to surrender your life to Jesus and receive the hope that He offers in our blog: This is For You!
3. Read the Bible: Did you know the Bible is living and active? The book of Hebrews says:
The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12
When you read the Bible, you’re not just reading words on a page; you’re receiving the words of God. In the scriptures, there are Bible verses for when you feel lonely, Bible verses for when you mess up, Bible verses for when you’re afraid, and even Bible verses for when you’re under financial stress.
If you’re struggling to read the Bible, now may be the season to listen to the Bible. Simple apps like the YouVersion Bible App or Street Lights offer audio Bibles in different translations and different languages. You will never regret reading or listening to the Bible in any season, at any time. The Bible is as important as water or food for Christians, and its teachings help us stay close to God.
4. Treat your relationship with God like a relationship you care about: What do you do if you feel far away from a friend? You reach out to them and make time to intentionally connect. The same applies to your relationship with God. When you haven’t seen a friend in a while, it’s important to get quality time with them. One of the easiest ways you can feel instantly close to God is to set aside an hour or more to be with Him. Place this time with God on your calendar and treat it like an important meeting that can’t be moved.
7 Bible Verses for When You Feel Far From God
Now that you’ve got some time with God scheduled, here are some Bible verses you can read, sing, pray, or write down to help you feel connected with God.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” - Revelation 3:20
Bible verses for when you feel far from God remind us of the reality that Jesus is just a breath away. In the book of Revelation, we read that Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts. He is patient and knocks. If you feel far from God, remind your soul that He is at the door of your heart. During a time of prayer, you can tell the Lord, “I open the door of my heart to you, Jesus. Meet me in this place and help me to not feel far from You.”
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5
You don’t need to be a gardening master to understand this Bible verse for when you feel far from God. Its metaphor is simple: Jesus is the source of life, and we must stay connected to Him. If you pull a leaf off a plant, that leaf can’t grow anymore. Likewise, even if we feel far from God, we must remain in Jesus, rather than disconnect or cut ourselves off from His presence. One way to abide in God is to keep His words in your heart. Renewing your mind with Christian music that sings the scriptures is an easy and fun way to do stay connected.
Listen to the album Labyrinth by David Baloche to get Bible verses for when God feels far away into your heart through song.
Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:8
Sometimes when you feel far from God, it’s because you're believing lies. As you spend time with the Lord in prayer, you can pray this Bible verse when you feel far from God to renew your mind. A simple prayer can sound like, “Lord, I know that when I come near to You, You promise to draw near to me. I repent for where I’ve believed lies about Your character. Help me to know You more through Your Word. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
Related Post: How to Have Joy & Peace in Difficult Times
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
Bible verses for when you feel far from God always invite you to seek God. Sometimes, it can feel exhausting to seek God when you feel distant, but seeking God always pays off. Seeking God when you feel far from Him can look like pausing in your day to pray the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) or reading the Bible before bed. Other times, seeking the Lord looks like asking for help and wisdom from those who have been following Jesus longer than you. Everyone who has been following Jesus for a while knows that seasons of God feeling far away happen sometimes. Those who have been walking in the faith longer than you can provide encouragement, prayer, and wisdom for your soul.
Learn more about seeking God within community: 5 Bible Verses About Community: How to Have a Christian Family
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
This Bible verse for when you feel far from God shows us how to renew our minds on the Word of God. Praying this Bible verse when you feel distant from God can sound like, “Lord, I feel far from You, but I know that it is good for me to be near You. I choose to run to You as my refuge. I choose to pause disappointment and tell of Your works.” After this, you can begin to thank God for what He’s doing in your life and how He’s moving in the world.
Learn more about the profound power of gratitude in our blog: The Benefits of Gratitude in the Bible
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. - Psalm 145:18
Bible verses for when you feel far from God consistently remind us that God is near. God is closer than you know! Even when it feels like darkness is surrounding you, Jesus is your advocate, and He is even praying for you! (Hebrews 7:25)
Discover how to overcome fear and restore your connection with God: What Does the Bible Say About Fear?
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 17:27
Sometimes when we feel far from God, it feels like we are reaching out for Him in a dark room. Thankfully, God has promised us in this Bible verse that he is not far from anyone. No matter what you’ve done, what you’ve walked through, or what you’re afraid of, God is not far from you. You can call on Him, and He will meet you.
Even when you feel far from God, sharing His love with others is important. Hear real-life stories of connection with God as you live out your mission to share Jesus with others:
Conclusion
When you feel far from God, it's easy to feel forgotten. However, this feeling of distance will pass, and before you know it, you will have a thriving connection with God again. Seasons of feeling far from God are a natural part of Christianity, but this moment is not the end of your story. As you read the Bible, grow in prayer, seek community, and look to the cross, you will find your heart feeling nearer to God. Remember: God is not hiding from you or punishing you. Relationships take work, time, and sometimes, connection is challenging. But keep seeking, keep knocking, and keep pursuing Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith. He is for you, and so are we!
Ask About My Faith exists to help you take your next step towards Jesus. Boost your faith and follow the Everyday Faith Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts today.
