Feel so out of touch with God

Apologetic_Warrior · Feb 24, 2019

Hey sis I struggle too, be encouraged God always hears us, His grace and mercy abound! I can relate, let's be led by the Spirit and not our feelings. So depressed and self-focused when walking by how I feel. He forgives us, as unworthy as we are, His love is unconditional, be encouraged sis, this season will pass and a new season will come, wait on the Lord!

Ing Bee · Feb 24, 2019

Hi Macchiato-
Maybe this will help: In my life with Christ, there have been times like you describe. I have come to learn that there are several possibilities for why I feel that way:

Unconfessed sin or delayed obedience. In both cases, I am holding back from engaging in the deep, interpersonal relationship that the Gospel has provided for me. In the case of unaddressed sin, I am allowing guilt to rob me of the freedom I have in Christ. In the case of delayed obedience (i.e. disobedience) I am not trusting that the Creator who made me, the Savior who rescued me, and the Spirit who empowers me have better things to offer than the "deceitful desires" that characterize the old way of living (Ephesians 4:20-24).

Happily, these two are easily addressed: confess my sin to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and to my Christian family for healing (James 5:16). For delayed obedience, I look at what the Father has done for me in Christ (Romans 5:6-8, Hebrews 4:14-16, etc.). The life of a Christian is a life of Faith from first to last; faith is personal trust revealed in cooperative response. If you are not reminded and convinced of God's attitude and action toward you, you will end up going through the motions. He is fully committed to you.
Misunderstanding and confusion about what this New Life is. This one is an on-going process for me, but happily I have seen God's patient love most clearly. No matter where we come from, when we come to Christ we have wrong pictures of reality that have to be cleared up by the truth of what God has actually said. Oftentimes when I was discouraged or disappointed with God, it was because I assumed promises that God never made.

The good news here is that part of the Holy Spirit's role in the life of a follower of Jesus is to teach us and correct our thinking through the Word. As I have come to understand that Father, Son and Spirit are interpersonally dynamic (they are really, really good at loving and engaging) and are not constrained by my feelings or attitudes, I have also begun to rest more in more in the process of transformation. If you read the Psalms, you know that crying out and even complaining is not a problem for God when you cry out to him based on his character. Yahweh is THE faithful God. He has no rivals in the "faithful to complete what I've begun in you" department. When we are faith LESS he remains faith FULL (2 Timothy 2:13).
Sensation/Feelings are not the evidence of relationship. When I was younger Christian I though that experience and inner feelings was the evidence that God was with me. I would chase the "feeling" train and evaluate everything based on my sensations. If I didn't feel them, either God was absent, or I had done something wrong.

Now I know that this is totally backward. Relating to God is exactly like relating to a human person. The only difference is the TYPE of BEING (uncreated source of everything) Yahweh is and his NATURE (Divine Community of Love- Father, Son & Spirit). But the interpersonal aspects are just like human relationships. For example, I KNOW I can trust my wife. I don't FEEL I can trust her. I WANT (will) to live for her benefit, I don't FEEL that I want to do so. Feelings come when I see how she's benefitted (i.e. I got what I wanted)I'm happy). I DESIRE (will) to know her and so when she feels safe and shares her thoughts with me (i.e. I got what I wanted) I'm happy.

It's the same with God. Know his mind with your mind (read his Words), hiswill (what he wants) and emotions (how he feels toward his people and how he feels toward injustice, sin, and evil. Share your mind, will and emotions with him (e.g. Keep praying, sister!). Know he loves you because he told you so and because he showed the full extent possible in dying in your place (Romans 5:8).

Some tips for your interpersonal adventure with Yahweh:

Keep praying, but pray based on how God has shown himself in his word to be, especially in the Cross (Romans 5:8).
Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).
Just as all relationships require self-disclosure and trusting cooperation, this is exactly how to engage with God. Think of "feelings" as the end of the interpersonal cycle: With your MIND you know and perceive another person. With you WILL you choose how to engage and respond. Your EMOTIONS tell you if your will is being achieved. As your thought become his (Romans 12:2) your desires and actions will be in line with his, and you will be content (Philippians 4:10-13)

royal priest · Feb 24, 2019

Lack of energy can cause lack of interest. Do you know the cause for this feeling? Is it from a physical issue?

tdidymas · Feb 24, 2019

You're not alone, as many of us go through "desert" experiences (aka the book of Numbers). What has helped me is 2 things having to do with understanding the Christian life:

1. Faith transcends feelings: feelings are fleshly, therefore, we must not let our fleshly feelings define our life. Faith is fundamental to our relationship with God. Therefore, when we are faithful to God, seeking Him through knowledge of scripture, discipline of memorization, prayers like "Lord, what do you want me to do in this situation" - we learn the goodness of living by faith, and our feelings start to follow suit. Therefore, don't follow feelings, but rather follow Christ by knowing His words and applying them to your own situations.

2. Jesus never said to make sure people love us, since the whole world does that. He told us to love others. Love is outgoing. Since feelings-focus is an addiction that the world is in bondage to, Love for others (as in serving others) is what gets us out of that psychological rut. Therefore, get involved. Meeting the needs of other people gives a sense of accomplishment, which enhances our dignity and self-esteem, as well as gets us out of our self-centered shell.

However, if your issue is physical because of disease or something you're eating, then you might need a doctor or counseling.
TD

Toro · Feb 24, 2019

Prayer, not for you to suddenly be so completely consumed with the fire of the Lord in your heart... that is of course the goal, for Him to be the only "thing" that matters of course.

Just remember the parable of the prodigal son. The father could have waited for his child to return to him. Instead he ran out to meet him even though his child was far off.

If he, the father that was wicked knew how to rush out and meet his child.... how much more will our GREAT Father rush out to meet us, no matter how far off we are? To meet us where we are, just need to turn to Him, He will meet us where we are.

That is to say, God knows your heart... again to pray that you will be on fire in love for the Lord is great, but it is a journey, step by step.

Ask Him in prayer to help you to want to read. To help you to want to want to if needed. To honestly say to Him in a sense... "Help me in my unbelief"

Then allow Him to work, continue to pray that He will make you willing.... then when that happens, pray for growth, to know Him better and again, let Him work in and through you how He sees fit.

Monk Brendan · Feb 24, 2019

Sometimes, you have to keep on keeping on.

As C. S. Lewis said, the demons are NEVER more frightened than when a Christian feels totally abandoned by God, but is determined to obey Him.

Then you might also need to see your doctor.

Cis.jd · Feb 25, 2019

My advice. Go around nature for a bit. Take a break from your modern day surroundings and have a good vacation. Whether by yourself or someone. Go to a new environment and just don't think about anything else other than where you are at. If you have time and an area.. try sitting down at night and look at the stars. Just chill, lay back and look up and just watch.

You are bored and currently tired emotionally or something. Don't worry about church or any disinterests in whatever your norm was.

danielmears · Feb 25, 2019

It sounds as though you are having a faith struggle. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans

Macchiato said:

I feel like I'm drowning in apathy.
I don't want to go to church.
Don't want to read, it bores me

The only thing I can half way do is pray-

I feel lost. I don't know if God hears me anymore

Have zero energy for anything. I just feel like I'm dragging myself around.

Click to expand...

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans
10::17 I am sorry to hear of your struggle. On my blog is a Knowledge of God series which could empower you to overcome these difficulties. Included is The keys of the kingdom, Becoming One, Faith and the Unseen, The Heart and the Mouth, The Word and the Blessing and others. May God bless you and quicken your spirit as you delve into the Word! The knowledge of God – The Realm by Daniel Mears

Maria Billingsley · Feb 25, 2019

This may be a physical problem. Make an appointment with your doctor.

Foxfyre · Feb 25, 2019

Look to Jesus of Nazareth on the cross: "Father why have you forsaken me?"

Look to Moses amidst the angry clamor of frightened Israelites not waiting on the Lord as was expected of him.

Psalm 22:1 For the director of music. To the tune of "The Doe of the Morning." A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

Job 23: . . .“Even today my complaint is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3 If only I knew where to find him; . . .
. . .“But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. . ."

The Bible is full of those who had those times when it seemed God was distant. When doubts plagued them. When it seemed so hopeless, so futile, so pointless.

Even Jesus's closest disciples did not believe He was still with them. They saw or were told the tomb was empty but Jesus/God was nowhere to be found. So they went back to fishing or whatever other activities they had engaged in before.

But in every case God was with them every step of the way. As the "Footsteps in the Sand" suggests, sometimes when they couldn't see His footsteps with theirs was when He was carrying them.

My counsel is to wait it out. Pray the prayer "Lord I believe; help me in my unbelief." And keep going through the motions until they once again are emotion and you are secure in the presence of the living Christ once more. I assure you that you will be.

Calvin_1985 · Feb 25, 2019

My advice would be to just look at what is ruling your life right now. Where is it that you have been drawing your solace and rest from. I wouldn't accuse you of not being saved, but start looking at your own profession of Faith in the past and look to see of it was really founded upon Jesus or religion.

Calvin_1985 · Feb 25, 2019

Btw, I too have been where you are. It took laying aside everything I had build my Christian life upon to see what was wrong. I had at one point got sucked into "Calvinism"(reformed theology) and it slowly ate away at my faith because it removed Fathers Love. I was no longer seeking the word of God and the Kingdom, but everything that Calvinism said about the Bible and interpreted it to be. This led to a dry soul and heart that no longer found any motivation to read the Bible, pray, or do anything that God had set for me to do in the plan he had for me. I ended up going back to some things of the flesh that Jesus had ounces freed me from. It took me getting to the point of setting all this stuff aside in the boring unmotivated state I had become. All the while though Father was still there, waiting for me to come back. Just lay everything down and let Jesus show you the way back. Hope this helps you my sister.

LovebirdsFlying · Feb 25, 2019

Do you have clinical depression? That can make you feel like you're walking hip deep in molasses, even under the best circumstances.

Presbyterian Continuist · Feb 25, 2019

Where is your faith? Is it in your feelings? Have you examined yourself to see if there is something blocking your access to God. Have you honestly asked the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in you that might be causing your condition? Have you honestly and sincerely confessed all known sin - the things you have done, and the things you should have done?

Alternatively, have you seen a doctor to see whether your lack of energy is medical? I went to the doctor once when I had a time when I lacked energy, and I described how I felt and he said, "You're depressed!" I said, "How do you know?" He told me that he had just finished a paper on depression, and gave me the list of symptoms. Most of the symptom described me! So he put me on a course of Prozac for 9 months and that put me right.

The Scripture says quite plainly that God's eye is upon the righteous and His ear is open to their prayers. Sometimes He lets you know, and other times He doesn't. The bottom line is whether we believe His promises and the Word, or not. Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have seen and believed; but blessed are they who have not seen and believed."

Anthony2019 · Feb 25, 2019

I felt the same as you until a number of months ago. I neglected my prayer life for a number of years and God felt very distant throughout that time. I went away on a retreat to a community of brothers who live in a franciscan community on the coast. Everyone is different, but for me, I knew from previous experience that I had to go somewhere totally quiet, to bring myself to silence, so I was still and attentive enough for God to speak to me. I found that since that time, my faith has been reignited and I am far more aware of God's presence in my life.

Andrew77 · Feb 25, 2019

So based on the very strange responses that I got to my post, I can only assume that my meaning and purpose were not clear.

I hope you will allow me to clarify my post here.

First, the comparison of the Christian life, to the Olympic Athletes, is not something I came up with randomly.

It is the Bible.

Hebrews 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

So clearly, contrary to some, we are instructed to strive to win the gold medal.

More oddly, some asked how many medals have I won.

This is a very odd question, since I am still running the race. If I'm alive, then my race isn't over. We won't know how many medals we've won, until we finish our race here on Earth.

But the primary point of my post, was simply that in order to strive for the goal.... in order to run the race set before us... we have to ignore how we feel. We have to do what is right, and what we should, even when we don't feel like it.

So how many gold medals do I have? I have no idea.

What I do know, is that if I only do what I should, when I feel like it, I won't have very many.

If you only love your spouse when you feel like it... you won't be married very long.

If you only go to church when you feel like it... you won't be going very much.

If you only do what G-d says when you feel like doing what he says... You won't be following G-d that much.

Revelations 22:12 says
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone ACCORDING TO HIS WORK

If you only work for G-d, when you feel like it, and do not strive for the gold medals.... you may find that you made it into heaven, but have little reward to show for your work.

I hope that clears up the meaning behind my post. I was perplexed that some didn't seem to understand it.

St. Helens · Feb 25, 2019

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FireDragon76 · Feb 26, 2019

You feel guilty because you've been taught to be a religious robot instead of embracing your freedom as a child of God.

Of course God hears you. God hears everyone.

There are going to be periods in life where we feel down. That has nothing to do with God's attitude towards us. Our feelings are not the whole of reality, and our relationship to God is not dependent on how we feel.

gym_class_hero · Feb 26, 2019

Good morning, God bless you. Are you serving anywhere? Volunteering at a Christian ministry restarted my spiritual walk and made my faith more real.

Jenniferdiana · Feb 26, 2019

And I know I wouldn't be training and working out just to receive some praise and a gold medal that won't matter in the end. I would rather eat bons bons on the couch all day and get fat....and I am not saying there is anything wrong with training ..I just wouldn't kill myself for that...I wouldn't do it for that...

Feel so out of touch with God

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