God is Closer Than You Feel
Devotional Reading: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18
There are days when you pray, and it feels like your words bounce right back from the ceiling. You sing, you clap, you try to stir up some spiritual goosebumps, but nothing happens. Your emotions say, “God is far away,” but truth says otherwise. God’s presence is not measured by how you feel but by His Word. Feelings are unstable; truth is unshakable.
One of the biggest mistakes believers make is to assume that silence equals absence. If God seems quiet, it does not mean He has left. When a teacher is silent during an exam, the teacher is still in the room, watching closely. The silence is not punishment but a test of what you’ve already been taught. God’s “distance” may just be Him stretching your faith so you can learn to walk by trust rather than constant visible proof. That silence may be God’s way of building you into a stronger believer who doesn’t panic every time the goosebumps don’t show up.
Now, what do you do practically when you feel God is far? First, hold on to the Word, because it is more reliable than your moods. Secondly, talk to God anyway, even if it feels dry. Think of it like calling your best friend when the line is breaking, you don’t hang up immediately; you keep speaking until the connection clears. Lastly, surround yourself with other believers. Sometimes, when you cannot feel God in your personal prayers, you may sense His presence through fellowship, a word of encouragement, or even a song shared by another.
So, when your heart whispers, “God is far away,” remember the truth: He promised never to leave nor forsake you. Instead of waiting for the “feeling,” lean on the fact that He is already with you. Feelings come and go, but God’s presence does not. Today, shift your focus from emotions to truth, and you’ll realize He has been right there all along, whispering louder than you thought.
Prayer and Confession
Father, thank You for always being near, even when I don’t feel it. I declare that I walk by faith and not by sight. Your presence surrounds me, and I choose to rest in that truth. Amen!
Further Reading: Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5-6, Isaiah 41:10
