Can’t Feel God Anymore? 10 Helpful Things You Can Do

Have you ever gone through a period of time where you couldn’t feel the presence of God or hear His voice? It’s disheartening, and makes it challenging to continue walking out our faith.

We might even ask ourselves, “What’s the point?” What are we supposed to do when we can’t feel God?

It’s not an unusual experience for believers. In fact, even famous biblical characters have experienced this same absence of the sense of God during a hard time.

Isaiah says that God turned away from His people for a time (Isaiah 64:1-7), and Psalm 74:9 laments, “There’s not a sign or symbol of God in sight, nor anyone to speak in His name, no one who knows what’s going on.”

The good news is that those stories both ended in God’s reappearance, and His voice speaking clearly again. So how do we get there from our current situation?

How do we move from not feeling the presence of God to feeling it again? To hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit again?

Understanding God’s Presence

When seeking a palpable connection with God, it’s essential to understand that God’s presence may not always manifest in tangible ways. Your perception plays a crucial role in recognizing this presence.

Conceptualizing the Feeling of God

The sense of God can feel elusive, manifesting differently for different people. Some may experience a profound inner peace or a sudden insight during prayer or reflection, while others might find it in life’s everyday moments.

For some, feeling God’s love offers a profound, personal sensation, while for others, it’s more of an intellectual acknowledgment. Your lack of tangible sensation doesn’t negate His presence or the validity of your beliefs.

Just as different people have diverse relationships with their friends and family, so too can they have different connections with God’s presence.

It’s important to acknowledge that God’s presence isn’t always accompanied by intense emotions or spiritual highs. Instead, it is a constant and comforting assurance of His existence in your life.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is often described as the manifest presence of God that resides within you. It acts as a guide, teacher, and comforter, nurturing your spiritual growth.

Through the Holy Spirit, you might find wisdom in scripture, strength in times of challenge, or feel convicted to live a life that reflects your faith. Its role is to be an ever-present helper, making the presence of God a reality in day-to-day living.

Personal Reflection and Assessment

Examine your heart to ensure that sin isn’t causing the silence.

First and foremost, make sure your own actions aren’t creating a barrier between yourself and God during a hard time.

If God has previously instructed you to stop doing something, or to give something up, or if you’re purposely doing something you know is wrong, you might experience His silence until you respond in obedience.

In Psalm 51:10 (KJV), David prayed to God, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Likewise, the first thing we have to do to reestablish that feeling of God with us is to work on creating a clean heart in ourselves.

Consider what space you’ve created for God’s presence.

When you struggle to feel God’s presence, you may also need to consider whether you’ve created space in your life for a close relationship with Him.

Take time to evaluate the frequency and quality of your personal prayers and meditations. It’s not just about quantity; the depth and sincerity of your spiritual practices matter significantly.

• Consistency: Have you been praying and meditating consistently?
• Quality over Quantity: Are your reflections genuine and heartfelt, rather than rushed or routine?

Spiritual Disciplines and Practices

Engaging with spiritual disciplines can transform your relationship with God. These practices can help you feel His presence in your life more deeply.

Read the letter He wrote you!

I could write an entire post on just this. It frustrates me when people say they can’t hear God, yet never open the letter He wrote just for them…the Bible.

Sure, sometimes God will speak directly to your heart, but He’ll much more regularly speak to you through Scripture. Studying God’s Word is one of the primary spiritual disciplines and cannot be neglected.

No human relationship would survive if one person did all of the talking and never listened to the other person’s response. Our relationship with God is no different, and should actually be made up of way less talking and much more listening on our part.

Open your Bible every single day when you can’t feel God. (Looking for a little guidance in this area? Be sure to check out 40 Devotionals for Women.)

Pray without ceasing.

I know…when you can’t feel God, your prayer life can feel like talking to the wall. But we are instructed time and again in the Bible to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16, Luke 18:1, Colossians 4:2, etc.), whether we feel the presence of God or not.

This is another pillar of our spiritual disciplines, and one to help us to connect with the Holy Spirit within us.

We must also be careful that our prayer life isn’t comprised solely of our personal requests. Philippians 4:6 instructs us to bring our requests along with our praise.

Matthew 6:6 tells us that prayer should always shift the focus off of ourselves and onto God. So start your prayer with thanks and praise, then bring your requests, and then ask God to show you how you can serve Him and His purposes.

Need a little direction to get started? Be sure to check out How to Pray | Jesus’ Simple Guide + All Your Questions Answered, Guaranteed!

Surround yourself with worship music.

The more things you can surround yourself with that point to and focus on God, the better! Worship music is a fantastic way of reminding yourself of God’s attributes and truths, and of responding appropriately.

And thanks to the internet, you can find and play it at home, at the office, in your car, anywhere! Again, we want to surround ourselves with as many opportunities as possible for God to speak to and move our hearts, and worship works as an excellent conduit for just that.

Fast.

Fasting is a long-established spiritual discipline that helps to more closely connect us with God and break through spiritual barriers. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus gives us instructions for when we fast, not if.

He explains that fasting helps us to “better concentrate on God,” and that God “won’t overlook what you are doing; He’ll reward you well.” That’s a promise worth acting on!

Serve God and others.

When we can’t feel God, we often focus all of our efforts on asking what God can do for us, rather than the other way around.

And so we excuse ourselves from serving His purposes. The first thing we have to do is resolve our current situation, right?

But continuing to seek out opportunities to serve God and others helps us to shift the focus off of ourselves and our feelings (which aren’t reliable anyway) and onto a holy God Who is worthy to be honored and served. God may even use your service as an opportunity to connect with you.

Attend church and/or small groups regularly.

When we can’t feel God, we often wonder if there’s any point to going to church. We can’t feel Him anyway, right?

We might also start to pull away from our relationships with those who are connected with God, because we’re self-conscious and/or discouraged by the comparison.

But cutting church out of your routine cuts out one more opportunity to connect with God through both worship and studying God’s Word. During this time, it’s going to be important to create and maintain as many opportunities to connect with God as possible, and to stay connected with others who can support and encourage you in your faith.

Cling to God’s promises.

The Bible is filled with the promises of God, assurances that do not waver despite your circumstances.

In moments when God’s presence feels absent, hold tightly to truths such as Proverbs 3:5-6, which encourages you to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Leaning on the promises of God’s word can offer stability, as God’s character remains steadfast.

Reflect on scriptures that reaffirm His faithfulness. Let these be the bedrock of your hope.

Keep living and acting in faith.

We’re called to walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). So even when God is silent, and even if/when we can’t feel God, we keep serving faithfully, doing the right things we know to do.

I love how the Apostle Paul said it in 1 Corinthians 7:17, “Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life.” God, not our feelings or current circumstances, defines our lives.

So keep living like it, going through the same motions and answering the same calling until you can feel God’s presence again.

Encountering Hard Times

When you face hard times, it’s not uncommon to feel as if God’s presence is distant. This section explores the right things to do to navigate this challenging spiritual terrain.

Navigating a Spiritual Dry Season

During a spiritual dry season, your routine practices of faith may seem to lack their previous vitality. It’s crucial to remember that these periods are often times of hidden, beneath-the-surface growth.

You might not sense the immediate presence of God, but maintaining disciplines like prayer in your current situation, even when it feels fruitless, is important. Pray without ceasing, as persistence in prayer can offer a pathway through the dryness.

Overcoming the Absence of Good Feelings

The good news is that the absence of good feelings doesn’t equate to the absence of God.

Feelings are often transient and influenced by a variety of factors. Focusing on factual truths about God’s nature rather than fluctuating emotions can help steady your faith in these times.

Seek community support and rely on God to guide you back to a place of emotional and spiritual connection.

Theological Insights

Exploring how the love of Christ manifests, the essence of the cross, and teachings from the book of Hebrews, this section aims to deepen your understanding of God’s great love. The Apostle Paul’s perspective on suffering and love adds another layer to this exploration.

God’s Great Love and Essence of the Cross

The essence of the cross is central to Christian theology and reflects the ultimate expression of God’s love.

At the cross, Jesus took on the sins of humanity, demonstrating a great love that is meant to be the benchmark for believers. You’re invited to consider this act as the highest form of sacrificial love, one that calls for a response of gratitude and imitation.

Teachings from the Book of Hebrews

The book of Hebrews offers insights into the nature of God’s promises and God’s love. It presents Jesus as the high priest who mediates a new covenant, emphasizing that “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

This reminds us of God’s steadfast presence that doesn’t hinge on our ability to “feel” Him nearby — His love and commitment are constants, irrespective of human perception.

Apostle Paul on Suffering and Love

The Apostle Paul, in facing the most painful times of his life, spoke to experiencing hardships as a part of our journey. His epistles highlight that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

Through his teachings, we learn that suffering isn’t an indicator of the absence of divine love, but perhaps a conduit to understand and experience the love of Christ more deeply.

We’re Growing in Faith When We Can’t Feel God

Although it’s difficult to bear, we can trust that God is refining and building our faith during this hard time. Jesus called us to walk by faith, not by sight.

It’s much easier to serve God when He feels near and His voice is directing our every step, pointing out a clear and certain future. But the true test of our faith is when we’re walking in the dark and the silence.

Will we still place our trust in God’s Word and His promises? This is our opportunity to act on what we say we believe.

We will hear God’s voice and feel His presence again. In the meantime, we must create as many opportunities for connection as possible, through establishing a clean heart, reading the Bible, praying, serving God and others, attending church regularly, filling our hearts with worship, fasting, and living and acting in faith.

Frequently Asked Questions About When You Can’t Feel God

Exploring these FAQs can provide you with the practical steps and spiritual insights needed when you’re struggling to sense God’s presence in your life.

How can I reconnect with the feeling of God’s presence?

Sometimes, feeling disconnected from God’s presence can be addressed through consistent prayer, as consistent communication is key in any relationship. Praying without ceasing is another of the spiritual disciplines that may help in times when God’s presence seems absent.

What actions might I take when I don’t feel close to God?

In moments of spiritual distance, it might help to remember that you’re not alone; many people experience this feeling. Meditating on specific scriptures and engaging in Christian community are tangible ways to seek closeness with God during these times.

Which Bible verses can guide me when God’s presence doesn’t feel real?

Biblical passages can offer comfort and guidance when God feels distant. Verses such as Colossians 3:12 encourage believers to clothe themselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, cultivating an environment to sense God’s presence more profoundly.

What are the reasons we may not always feel God is with us?

A variety of factors, including personal struggles such as unconfessed sin and disappointment, can hinder one’s spiritual connection to God. It’s important to consider these potential barriers and address them prayerfully.

What steps can be taken to carry and maintain the presence of God daily?

Maintaining a sense of God’s presence daily involves intentional acts such as worship, service, and scripture reading. Practices such as journaling and engaging in Christian fellowship can also sustain spiritual awareness.

How can someone come to feel God’s love when it seems distant?

Feeling God’s love, even when it seems distant, is often a matter of faith and trust. Reorienting your beliefs and affirmations of faith may help in recognizing God’s love for you as constant, regardless of the emotional experience.

*This post was last updated 12/29/2023.

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