Struggling with feeling God’s presence

[Sara50840]

I’ve always struggled with feeling God’s presence. It’s hard having faith in something I can’t feel or haven’t really EXPERIENCED in the way I hear stories about. It makes me scared that my faith isn’t genuine or if I’m doing something wrong.

I’ve been a Christian since I was 4. Yes, this has haunted me for awhile because I feel like that was way too young, but I feel as if I’ve had enough faith since then (and panic prayers) that at some point it really did become genuine. Plus I read “Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart” by JD Grear to help with some of my fears.

But now, I don’t know if I’m just backsliding or if it’s something more serious.

I’ve never been good at prayer or Bible reading. I get distracted. I get busy. I have really good phases where I do it daily and then I drop off and have trouble getting back on it. But even then, it feels more like studying and learning information instead of meditating and sitting with God. I read, do a quick prayer, and go about my day. I’ve tried to sit with Him more, but then my thoughts just wander, and I don’t ever hear Him or feel Him.

I keep trying to pray for God to reveal Himself to me. To ease my anxiety. To give me some kind of answer. But I hear nothing. And then I just become less motivated to read the Bible or pray. I’ve never been good at praying anyway.

I don’t know what to do at this point. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal for Christians to just feel distant? I feel like most of my “encounters” with God have just been vicariously through others. I know all the answers to questions at church, am very familiar with the Bible, and serve regularly, but it just feels like I’m following obligation and not living by faith.

It feels like I’m just forcing everything, and I don’t know how to make it feel real.

 

[timewerx]

I often heard from the Holy Spirit.

But I never got the "feelings". I always hear about Christians getting distinct good feelings which they clearly recognize as from the Holy Spirit.

Feelings of comfort and great contentment with myself is probably the closest thing but I don't think that's it.

I never forced it either.

I was in a pentecostal group prayer couple times surrounded by people falling and wriggling on the floor and felt absolutely NOTHING even though I'm praying.

Eventually, the group thought I'm possessed by an evil spirit so they all surrounded and laid their hands on me and I still felt nothing. If I'm actually possessed, that would mean the group have absolutely no power over the spirit that's possessing me or lack the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in them. Either way, it's bad.

I feel better (not necessarily feeling the Holy Spirit) alone and can hear the Holy Spirit way better alone and in silence.

 

[tturt]

Think our minds wander but ...

There is " ... when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret..." Matt 6:6 There will be interruptions but we don't need to pursue them at that pont in time. To represent a list, I make a writing motion for a sec and deliberately refocus on God.

"Pray without ceasing." I Thess 5:17. It's to keep our minds on Him. There are important elements of prayer including praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness, and repentance (Matt 6, Psa 100:4, 107:1, Eph 5:20, Jam 1:17, Heb 13:15, Rev 2-3).

Of particular interest - "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psa 100:4)

Prayer is communicating with the Only One True God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I’ve always struggled with feeling God’s presence. It’s hard having faith in something I can’t feel or haven’t really EXPERIENCED in the way I hear stories about. It makes me scared that my faith isn’t genuine or if I’m doing something wrong.

I’ve been a Christian since I was 4. Yes, this has haunted me for awhile because I feel like that was way too young, but I feel as if I’ve had enough faith since then (and panic prayers) that at some point it really did become genuine. Plus I read “Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart” by JD Grear to help with some of my fears.

But now, I don’t know if I’m just backsliding or if it’s something more serious.

I’ve never been good at prayer or Bible reading. I get distracted. I get busy. I have really good phases where I do it daily and then I drop off and have trouble getting back on it. But even then, it feels more like studying and learning information instead of meditating and sitting with God. I read, do a quick prayer, and go about my day. I’ve tried to sit with Him more, but then my thoughts just wander, and I don’t ever hear Him or feel Him.

I keep trying to pray for God to reveal Himself to me. To ease my anxiety. To give me some kind of answer. But I hear nothing. And then I just become less motivated to read the Bible or pray. I’ve never been good at praying anyway.

I don’t know what to do at this point. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal for Christians to just feel distant? I feel like most of my “encounters” with God have just been vicariously through others. I know all the answers to questions at church, am very familiar with the Bible, and serve regularly, but it just feels like I’m following obligation and not living by faith.

It feels like I’m just forcing everything, and I don’t know how to make it feel real.

Do you Love Jesus Christ of Nazareth?