If you're a perfect Christian who is always right where you need to be in your relationship with God, don't read any further. This won't apply to you. BUT if you're a Christian who is imperfect and falls short of God's grace over and over again, read on.
Saying you're a Christian in today's society is easy, but actually living out the Christian lifestyle in a world full of distractions is a different story. I fall into the category of the imperfect Christian who constantly falls short. The reality is that a perfect Christian does not exist; a perfect person doesn't even exist. Therefore, we all fall into this same category. We are sinners, and because we are sinners, we fall short. The amazing thing about our God, though, is that He loves you anyway.
There are different reasons that you may feel distant from God. Everyone's situation is unique. Maybe you haven't had a lot of time to pray or read the Word, or maybe you've made so many mistakes that you know God could never forgive someone like you. Yes, God is a just God, so it's important that we try to do the right things and live in a way that pleases Him, but He's also a loving God. There is nothing in this world and there is no mistake too big that could separate you from His love. Isn't that comforting? Nothing. You can't surprise Him; He is omniscient. He knows each choice that you're going to make throughout your life. By free will, it's up to you to choose your priorities and how you will live day to day as a Christian. Although, no matter of the choices you make — some right and some wrong — He loves you anyway.
We've all felt like our spiritual journey is up and down. There have been times that you've felt absolutely on fire for God, where your relationship with Him was in a great place and you've never been happier. Then there are times like now, times where you hit your knees and pray, and you question if He can even hear you anymore. There is no worse feeling, and there is never a time that you've felt more alone. First, if you're wondering if He can still hear you, know that he CAN. Know that He IS listening.
1 John 5:14 (NIV) states "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." This reminds me of how I used to pray, compared to how I pray now. I used to pray for specific things / people that I wanted in my life — things / people that I thought I needed. My prayer would go something like this : "God, please let me have _____, I really want this is my life.", or "God, please make _____ come back into my life, I miss them and need them back."
One day I stopped to think about what I was truly saying, and it hit me that it didn't matter what I "wanted" or "needed". What matters are the things that God knows I want and need. Those are the things I should be asking for. My prayers have changed ever since that day. Now I pray for God to give me the things that are according to His will for me, and to place / remove people in my life, according to His will for me. Try this, it will open your eyes and keep you on the right path.
The best thing you can do when you're feeling far from God is to wait. Don't give up. You're going to hear Him again, and you're going to feel Him again, but you have to focus. Focus on your relationship with Him and seek Him with all of your heart. This is a test of your faith, and because you're a son or daughter of God, I know that you have the strength to overcome it. Put everything else aside, because after all, this is the most important thing.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
Your spiritual journey is going to be full of questioning, doubts, and bad days, but more importantly, it's going to be full of hope, grace, and true love from the King of the world. No matter what happens along the way, hang in there. He loves you anyway.
