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?

 

[jonojim1337]

I went many years thinking, I need some supernatural event to prove I’m on the right track. And I do have one charismatic event that was a turning point for me. But now as I am wiser I understand it’s not about those things. It’s a about the relationship you have with other people.

God is going to answer your prayers and he will reveal himself to you. But it’s most likely not going to be in the form you ask of.

 

[timf]

There can be a danger for a Christian to chase after feelings. It can place an unhealthy emphasis on self.

The Christian life is supposed to be about transitioning from the selfishness of the flesh to the selfless love of Christ by walking by the Spirit. Self can put us in the wrong direction.

 

[Sara50840]

There can be a danger for a Christian to chase after feelings. It can place an unhealthy emphasis on self.

The Christian life is supposed to be about transitioning from the selfishness of the flesh to the selfless love of Christ by walking by the Spirit. Self can put us in the wrong direction.

But how do you know the Spirit is there if you can't feel it?

 

[timf]

But how do you know the Spirit is there if you can't feel it?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Holy Spirit works in us to make us better people. The fact that you want to be better may be an indication that the Holy Spirit is already working in you.

 

[jonojim1337]

But how do you know the Spirit is there if you can't feel it?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Holy Spirit works in us to make us better people. The fact that you want to be better may be an indication that the Holy Spirit is already working in you.

I think also, being convicted is a sign of his presence, and the forerunner to meekness. You can see how people far from God aren’t convicted. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.

 

[jacks]

You're fine. We all feel distant or detached from God at times. God's presence can be very subtle, so much so we might not even notice it. Try just being still and listen for that small voice. When you don't hear it, don't worry just keep listening.

Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.”
And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still, small voice.

1 Kings 19 11-12

 

[Lukaris]

I have found trying to conform my conscience to the Lord’s commandments useful for daily living. I need my conscience for necessary functional living and I need the Holy Spirit as my counselor. When, for ex., I read John 14:15-18 this seems very clear to me. I believe what Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:5 can be applied here on an individual level although their discussion is on a pastoral level.

When I refer to the Lord’s commandments, of course I refer to Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 7:12 per Matthew 7:1-12, Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:8-10 per Romans 13:1-14 etc. The basic way to live this is to try to practice basic charity & prayer ( see Matthew 6:1-13, Matthew 9:36-38, 1 Timothy 2:1-6 etc.).

Probably most believing Christians are already doing this but not seeing the whole picture & feeling something might be missing. Paul tells us realize that the Lord’s grace given to us is sufficient ( 2 Corinthians 12:9) & not to get confused by things we may not be able to handle ( 2 Corinthians 12:1-9).

I believe challenges continue to face us as we live. When I read Galatians 5:1-25 ( for ex.), I see the bigger picture but I am still, as with others, moving along ( see Philippians 3:12-16). I see myself more towards the slower end of the line but my faith moves me along.

 

[jonojim1337]

I have found trying to conform my conscience to the Lord’s commandments useful for daily living. I need my conscience for necessary functional living and I need the Holy Spirit as my counselor. When, for ex., I read John 14:15-18 this seems very clear to me. I believe what Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:5 can be applied here on an individual level although their discussion is on a pastoral level.

When I refer to the Lord’s commandments, of course I refer to Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 7:12 per Matthew 7:1-12, Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:8-10 per Romans 13:1-14 etc. The basic way to live this is to try to practice basic charity & prayer ( see Matthew 6:1-13, Matthew 9:36-38, 1 Timothy 2:1-6 etc.).

Probably most believing Christians are already doing this but not seeing the whole picture & feeling something might be missing. Paul tells us realize that the Lord’s grace given to us is sufficient ( 2 Corinthians 12:9) & not to get confused by things we may not be able to handle ( 2 Corinthians 12:1-9).

I believe challenges continue to face us as we live. When I read Galatians 5:1-25 ( for ex.), I see the bigger picture but I am still, as with others, moving along ( see Philippians 3:12-16). I see myself more towards the slower end of the line but my faith moves me along.

When reading Romans 13 I think it’s important to point out that God has indeed appointed authorities, but this is not the same as anyone who appoints themselves as authority is from God.

 

[jonojim1337]

There is, nothing particularly supernatural about this, but I think it’s a wise position:

“They shall rest from their labors”

An obvious Sabbath reference, I was reminded of this as I, yet again, got the feeling that I can now die in peace, having experienced what I had to experience, and learned what I came here to learn, and what follows hereafter is just a bonus. You ever get this feeling?

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