So you don't feel God.
He feels distant and not like a close and intimate father. You cry out, and you get nothing. You search yourself for things that may cause separation and you still feel a void. You see others on social media posting about their life-changing experiences with God or their recent Bible study. You see others in church raising their hands and giving it their all. And you feel puny, confused, and maybe unwanted.
What do you do? Who do you turn to when God is silent?
The one you are supposed to interact with most is silent. Quiet. Nothing.
The Word.
The scripture. It is real. It is living. You may not be motivated to read it. The Bible maybe hard for you to turn to because it is not a being, it can't give immediate comfort. BUT the words are real, it's really God, really Jesus, and his people. If anyone knows silence of God, it's the people of the Bible. David in Psalm 13 states,
"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?"
The Bible is real and raw. The word isn't sugar coated or telling stories of people only in their best seasons of life. It's genuine. Turn to it, absorb it. Push through the complacency and distance. God may be silent so the words He has already stated can become beacons of truth and hope in your life.
Prayer.
Make your prayers real. Stop going to God like he doesn't care. Just because he is silent DOES NOT MEAN he does not love and seek you anymore. He is a good father, giving his children what they need at the right time. Be like David, pour it out. Give it your all. If you can be the most honest with anyone, it's Him.
Community.
So often in the church today, when we experience the silence or distance, we don't tell anyone. We think we are in the wrong. When more times than not, so many people have walked through this or are currently. Have community and reach out to those safe people in your life. They might bring things to your attention you didn't know were there. But they can also seek God with you, and encourage you through it.
Sometimes, these are easy to read when you're in a good place. When you hear from God, seek his word, and your prayer life is constant. But then it hits. You forget or often don't want to do the things that have been drilled into your brain. Your distance and complacency take your heart over, and there's no way out. And that's exactly what the enemy wants you to think. PUSH THROUGH. Easier said than done...
So remind yourself.
Take yourself back to those sweet moments with Jesus. Maybe they were a long time ago, or months/weeks ago. But if you have accepted Jesus as Son of God, then there's one sweet moment in itself. Where he captured your heart. Remind yourself of when the Holy Spirit took you on a journey, lead to places you didn't think you would be. Cherish them, hold on to them, and replay them. THIS is what keeps God worth it. He SOUGHT you. He SAVED you. He PURSUES you. We deserve nothing & He gave us all.
You are doing great friend. Give yourself grace. Repent where needed. Seek the word. Build community. Pray. Remind. & behold Jesus.
