Why can I not feel God's presence?

[stanley.kjrr]

Hello. My name is Stan and I am agnostic. I have joined this forum in search of answers to my many questions regarding christianity. Since there is no thread large enough to contain all of my questions I will just begin with the basics.

Why can I not feel God's presence?


Almost every single one of my friends, family members, and co-workers are completely and utterly sold on christianity but for some reason, I am not. I study the bible more frequently than most of them and go to church regularly but despite my honest efforts to come in contact with God (assuming He exists), I've yet to have a single experience with Him. What's the deal?

 

[Mr Dave]

Hi Stan, welcome to the site I hope some (if not all) of your questions get some answers.

To this one, it's difficult. The only things I can say right now are that God shows himself to different people in different ways, sometimes in big things (Moses and the Burning Bush, Exodus 3) and others in quieter ways ("Through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still small voice of calm" (Last verse of Dear Lord and Father of Mankind) of 1 Kings 19:11-13). God shows himself to us individually when He wants, and in a way suitable for us; although before other people say I'm missing 'the Big One', God showed himself to all of mankind through Jesus.

Without this turning into a psychological interrogation (about which I know diddly-squat), are these other questions that you have getting in the way, and you need answers to those first? When your friends/family/... say that they've experienced God, is it these questions that stop you full going along with it? If it is, that's no problem, Thomas doubted and he was close to Jesus.

 

[Ramy Louis]

Don't study your father all the time, try to act like him.
Make people see and say, that is a Christian, now we believe in the Holy Trinity.

If people can see the Lord in you, all you have to do then is to look to a mirror, but if you lose your image after that because of false pride, then you will lose faith again.

 

[zaksmummy]

One thing I have learned about God in the last few years is that he like us to look for him. Jesus said "seek first the Kingdom of God". Often when you have difficult questions the best thing to do is pray, ask God your questions, then read the bible - I have done this on a number of occasions and there in what I read were the answers to the questions I had been asking.

That doesnt mean that I have constantly felt Gods presence though - that usually happens when Im singing and praising him in church.

So my advice is to search - the bible and in prayer, keep at it and the reward will be worth the heartache.

 

[drich0150]

Not all of us are blessed with that gift. "Feeling" your way around your faith whether you have been given that gift or not is a dangerous thing anyway. Humble yourself before the Lord and allow Him to lift you up. When He does it will be through your gifts and talents.

 

[aiki]

Why can I not feel God's presence?

Almost every single one of my friends, family members, and co-workers are completely and utterly sold on christianity but for some reason, I am not. I study the bible more frequently than most of them and go to church regularly but despite my honest efforts to come in contact with God (assuming He exists), I've yet to have a single experience with Him. What's the deal?

Hmmm...Well, first of all, I don't know why you would expect to experience God in the same way as those who have given their lives to Him. If you as an agnostic could "feel" God just as one who is saved can "feel" Him, then conversion would seem rather unnecessary, don't you think? From what I understand from the Bible and personal experience, God reveals Himself to His children in a way unique to them as His children; He has fellowship with them that is intimate and which transforms them more and more into the "image of Christ" because they are His own.

Perhaps, though, your complaint is more that you have no certainty of God's being? Is that it? Do you puzzle over why others are so confident in their faith in God and yet He feels utterly unreal to you - even in spite of your efforts to "come into contact" with Him? If so, my answer to you is that there is really only one way to have "first contact" with God. Here's what the Bible, God's Word, tells us about it:

Isaiah 59:1-2
1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Romans 3:10
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Jeremiah 29:13
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


James 4:8-10
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Romans 10:9-11
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

If you want to experience God like His children do, you must become one of them. In order to do this, however, you must take as true the things the verses above express. Are you willing to see yourself as God sees you? Are you willing to confess your sins to God and repent of them? Are you willing to embrace with your whole heart the truth that Christ is your Saviour and Lord? Probably not just yet, I expect. You did say you had a lot of questions.

Doubtless it is the unanswered questions you have that are interfering with truly knowing God. When all your questions have been answered, though, you will still not experience God as Christians do until you have "confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead." This is the unavoidable prospect that awaits anyone who would really know their Maker.

It has been my experience talking with many, many agnostics/atheists that intellectual "problems" with God are almost always ultimately motivated by issues revolving around morality and personal control. Consequently, even after all their questions have been thoroughly answered, most atheists/agnostics still resist the call of their Creator. I sincerely hope you won't be one of these sort.

Selah.

 

[Emmy]

Dear stanley.kjrr. Perhaps you have not known God long enough. Or you cannot hear His still small voice? God is Love, and God is our Heavenly Father, keep talking to God and tell Him that you love Him and would like to feel His presence. Make yourself known to God, tell Him that is your wish, and then listen carefully. I say this with love, stanley. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ. P.S. Tell God about yourself, and keep doing this for a while, and God will hear you, stanley.

 

[berachah]

If you are serious try some fasting. God is Spirit and sometimes we need to deny the flesh to allow ourselves to become more sensitive to the spiritual realm.
Cut out TV, media and internet for a season as these things can also crowd out our senstivity to God.
Then start praying and reading the word of God.

It all depends on how much you want God. If you are hungry enough, God will meet you.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Jeremiah 29:13:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Intepretation: It's not all about knowledge of Scripture, though through Scripture you learn about the nature of God and His commandments. However, theological knowledge alone doesn't change your heart.

 

[salida]

You can't always go by feelings.

Christian concept, Are you a good person? www.livingwaters.com/good/

I suggest you research the credibility of the bible concerning overwhelming evidence which is very high even though it’s a spiritual decision first.
Visit: www.TheBibleProofBook.com, (you will need acrobat reader for this), read The Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell (its overwhelming circumstantial evidence of bible) and Examine the Evidence by Muncaster a former athiest/The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel a former athiest. Christiananswers.net, www.equip.org (articles), http://www.gotquestions.org/

Do you have the holy spirit? He will give you the power to live a christian life. Human effort alone can't do this. Pray and you will get it.

Take one day at a time and get some inspirational friends that love God by their actions. Read the bible and pray daily. Get involved in a serious church. Its a life long lifestyle and you will know God more and more. True faith is demonstrated by actions. Feel free to email me.