I imagine many of us have faced times when God feels distant. As Hubs and I walked infertility’s path, many days passed when I felt far from God. I couldn’t understand why He gave other people children, but not my husband and me.
In not understanding God’s intentions, I distanced myself from Him. It hurt too much to continue placing hope in a God who withheld a desire I believed He’d placed in my heart. I still had my quiet times, but that time was spent in rote activity rather than heart-renewal.
As I read Psalm 147 recently, verses 2-3 stood out to me. I’d also been reading Jeremiah and Ezekiel, prophets who spoke God’s messages to the people of Israel before and during their captivity.
He gathers those who went into captivity, those exiled from the Promised Land. The land He gave to their forefathers.
The people’s choices of idols over God forced a ripping divide in their relationship with Him. Their hearts grew cold to the point where they didn’t care anymore. They craved comfort over holiness. The world’s ways over God’s ways. Even when He warned them of what was coming if they continued on this path.
Nebuchadnezzar drove the people of Jerusalem into captivity for seventy years.
But we know all this.
What leaves me in awe is that God wanted them back. He promised He would build up Jerusalem. He would gather Israel’s exiles.
His people.
Even after their betrayal, God desired relationship with them. Not only would He gather them back, He promised to:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
What God Knows
God knew the breaking His people endured, the wounds inflicted upon their hearts, bodies, and minds.
And He said He would heal them.
Today, our relationship with God is different. The cross is our covering, our open door into our Father’s throne room.
God is more accessible today than He was to the people of the Old Testament. Still, we’re prone to wander, to walk away from our Father.
Even after we come into relationship with Him, we’re easily distracted.
Busy schedules, screens, real-life heartbreak as we watch loved ones struggle and suffer and die.
Friction between parents and children.
Distance between friends.
Illness.
These aren’t modern-day signs of exile. But, real life has a way of distancing us from our Father. Daily stress dizzies us, and our hearts grow cold. God feels distant.
Disappointed: How to Respond When God Feels Distant—Real life has a way of distancing us from our Father. Daily stress dizzies us, and our hearts grow cold. God feels distant. #tellhisstory #disappointment Click To TweetSometimes we’re angered by what He allows into our lives. Other times, we’re confused and hurt by what doesn’t happen, by our loved ones’ suffering.
We sometimes place ourselves in exile, far from the intimacy we were designed to share with God.
Disappointed: How to Respond When God Feels Distant—We sometimes place ourselves in exile, far from the intimacy we were designed to share with God #tellhisstory #disappointment Click To TweetIt feels easier, for a time. Less painful.
That distance satisfies our desire to get back at God.
For a time.
But our Father . . .
Even when we give up on Him, God never gives up on us. He promises to never leave us or forsake us.
He’s there, waiting to gather us back into the folds of His love. God is ready to heal broken hearts and bind up wounds—physical, spiritual, emotional, mental.
He’s the only One capable of working such miracles.
We will face times when we don’t understand God’s ways. When God feels distant, we often separate from Him to try and protect ourselves.
We’re poor guardians of our hearts and lives.
How to Respond When God Feels Distant
As Hubs and I tried to understand why God chose to not give us children, the Spirit’s conviction that I’d made motherhood an idol stung deeply.
Rekindling intimacy with God required me to release that craving for motherhood and seek Him first. No matter what He gave—or didn’t give—me.
As I let go of my dream, God brought healing by speaking the truth of His love over my heart. He helped me see the lies I’d clung to. As I released the lies, His truth brushed peace over my heart.
God eventually gifted us with two boys. It wasn’t until I came to the place of desiring Him more than motherhood that He could heal my heart, bind up the wounds the lies left, and show me His truth.
If—when—God feels distant—we must remember our Father is faithful.
He loves us.
He’s waiting for us when we reach the end of ourselves.
He doesn’t want to loom over us with judgment, but with love. When we come before Him in humility, He will heal our broken hearts in ways we can’t imagine. He binds up those wounds and speaks truth over the lies we clung to.
He draws us into deeper intimacy, so we’re no longer exiles.
We are beloved.
What about you? What helps you come to terms with disappointments when God feels distant? How does God draw you near to Himself?
This week, I’m linking up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, #Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
So beautiful, my friend. Lots of love! 💞
Thank you. 🙂 Send you love back!
That revelation is one we all need to have “eventually.” As we grow in Him and His Word, the a-ha moments get bigger, deeper, and more sacrificial. Amen?
Susan, you’re right. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, the a-ha moments do seem to take us deeper and can be much more sacrificial. Thanks for sharing that insight!
Amen, Jeanne. Sometimes when we go through hard things, we create these seemingly protective force fields around us, but this only serves to bring distance between us and others and between us and God. As you said: “In not understanding God’s intentions, I distanced myself from Him.” I’ve been there myself, many times!
Jessica, yes, I’ve erected “protective walls” around myself. The only purpose it serves is to isolate me from those who love me most, especially my Father. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s distanced herself from God. I’m also glad our Father gives us second (and third . . . and one-hundredth) chances!
You’re writing of God’s ways help draw me closer to God. Thank you for this timely message.
Lynn, I’m so glad these words were timely for you. Saying a prayer for you today!
Your messages always inspire me. I pray I will always feel God close to me. There have been times in my life when I begged Him to come closer. In those times, I now realize, He was already there.
Melissa, thanks for your kind words. I love what you said about how God was already there when you’d begged Him to come closer. Isn’t that a peace-giving realization?!
Jeanne, when others seem to have what we desperately want, it is easy to feel rejected and abandoned by God. I was reading in Romans 1 today, whose message echos yours. He is God, and I must worship and thank Him instead of putting my ideas over His. Lord Jesus, help me to put you first over my short-sighted ideas and wisdom.
Deb, yes. It’s easy for us to forget to worship God, especially when He’s chosen (for whatever reason) to not allow us to have something we want. When we choose to worship Him from our hearts, that seems to help us be better able to accept His plans over ours.
A very honest and insightful post about a difficult subject–the idols we all manufacture! And How when we’re disappointed, we tend to distance ourselves from God. Thankfully He doesn’t distance Himself from us but continues to seek us so He can heal us.
Kathy, that habit of distancing ourselves from God is almost ingrained, it seems. I’ve seen my sons do it, I’ve done it, and I’m sure others have too. I’m so thankful our Father does seek us gently and with the intention of healing us.
Thank you so much for this encouragement, Jeanne. I am awed, too, by God’s amazing, unconditional love. Again and again He welcomes us with open arms. He has so much patience with us. And this is so comforting – “Even when we give up on Him, God never gives up on us. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He’s there, waiting to gather us back into the folds of His love. God is ready to heal broken hearts and bind up wounds—physical, spiritual, emotional, mental.” Thank you for breathing fresh hope into my heart, both in your words and in your photos! Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, I’m so glad this encouraged you. Our Father DOES welcome us with open arms. Isn’t it amazing?! I’m sending you hugs, sweet friend.
I grew up singing song lyrics i did not comprehend, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave this God I love…..”. I thoroughly understand these lyrics now and have felt that pull away from God more than I want to admit. What I have found, is when I lean into him in those difficult times, he draws me near and whispers peace in my ear.
That hymn is one of my favorites. And isn’t it interesting how, as we grow in maturity, lyrics take on different meanings based on life experiences? I think you’re absolutely right, when we choose to lean into Him in those difficult times, He draws into Himself. I so appreciate your stopping by and sharing your insights!
The road unto my Calvary
goes on and on and on,
and heart beholds the mystery:
My God, where have you gone?
As I shuffle to my death,
bowed down with pain and fear,
I call to You in every breath;
why will You not come near?
Have You turned Your face from mine,
did I somehow cause offence?
Am I cast from the Divine
balm that marks Your presence?
Then in Via Dolorosa’s stone
I see footprints that are not my own.
Andrew, this poem is beautiful, and it spoke straight to my heart. I am sorry there are times when you feel alone in your painful, difficult journey. I also appreciate the reminder that, though we may not always feel God’s presence, He is with us, and He’s gone before us. I’m praying for you, my friend.
Andrew, how I love your poetry. So poignant and thought-provoking. I can only imagine how lonely your journey must feel at times. I’m thankful God is still present. I’ve been praying He’ll allow you to sense His presence with you. He does carry us, doesn’t He? Continuing to pray for you and Barb, friend.
Thanks for this wonderful post, Jeanne. You have definitely made me think this morning. First, I am so glad that God blessed you with your 2 boys! My word this year is “empty”. The more I think about it, the more I realize it has to do with leaving behind the busyness of everyday life and living more mindfully, thinking about what theologian Paul Tillich called our “ultimate concern”. I know how disappointed I would feel if someone I loved distanced themself from me. God must feel the same.
Laurie, I’m always happy when words in this place make someone think. 😉 I’m grateful God gave us our two boy-men too. There is so much about the word “empty.” I love what you’re taking from your meditations on it! Living mindfully . . . that’s a tough discipline, but oh, so worthwhile! And I LOVE your thoughts on how God must feel when we distance ourselves from Him.
Aw, Jeanne … you know these words are resonating with me loud and clear this morning. God DOES heal our broken hearts and bind up all those wounds. He’s done it before, and He’ll do it again. “O for grace to trust Him more,” as the old hymn says. Hugs, dear friend.
Lois, I’m thankful our Father is our Healer. He knows our brokenness and our wounds, and He doesn’t leave us in those places. I’m so thankful for His healing touch and His patience as we humble ourselves before Him. And YES to, “He’s done it before, and He’ll do it again.” Sending you hugs back, friend!
You are right. We sometimes think he is distant, and other times we are the ones that distance ourself from him. And yet, all the time he is willing to restore the relationship and bring us back to him. The story of the Israelites and how he brought them back to the land after their exile has always encouraged me. We serve a gracious God who will never turn his back on us.
Theresa, thank goodness our Father is always willing to restore the relationship, right? I keep learning—and seeing my similar failings—through the choices the Israelites made. I’m thankful our Father is gracious and has promised He will never turn His back on us.
Thank you for this heartfelt encouragement. I needed to remember that I’m not alone in my feelings, and that God is still with me in these places.
Rebecca, there’s reassurance in knowing we’re not alone in the feelings. I’m so thankful God is with us in every place—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and that He doesn’t abandon us when we go to dark places. Thank goodness He knows how to draw us back to the light.
Giving God my dreams-that-have-become-idols isn’t easy. We shake our heads over the Israelites and their childish actions of clinging to their idols and rituals, but your post made me realize I have things I’m clinging to, too.
Our Hearts are idol factories, and even my feelings! I have never met an emotion that wouldn’t become a god if I let it…
“Idol factories.” Yes to that, Michele. I’ve had thought processes and feelings I’ve had to hand over to the Lord too. It’s so humbling to admit that . . .
Anita, it seems like I have to hand over some of those dreams on a regular basis and ask God to re-align my heart with Him first. I have stopped shaking my head at the Israelites (though I’ve done it plenty of times!) because I’m seeing more and more how easy it is to slip into idolatry and not choosing God first.
Thanks for sharing this, Jeanne. It’s odd, isn’t it, how we pull away from the One we need most. But how gracious He is to keep pursuing is, and how thankful I am.
Barbara, it is odd. I’m so thankful He continues to pursue us too! I’d be lost without Him!