10 Verses For When You Feel Far From God
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? - Psalm 13:1-2
In my 20+ years of following Jesus, I’ve learned that it’s inevitable to go through seasons where you feel far from God. Even though I know He is always there, even though I know He never leaves me, and even though I know He doesn’t distance Himself from me, there have been more than a few times when it felt like I was distant from God.
There are good news and bad news about this feeling. I’ll start with the bad because then we can end on a positive note.
The bad news is that it can be a really lonely feeling to be in a season where God feels distant. You can feel unseen, unheard, and unknown. And that’s a lot to grapple with. But the good news is that the statement, “God feels distant” is nothing but a lie from the enemy.
Over and over again in Scripture, we are assured of God’s presence and His closeness. We are told that He never leaves His children and never takes a step back from them. We’re encouraged that He is always right beside us, regardless of how seemingly noble or apparently awful our actions and behaviors are. It doesn’t matter to Him. You’re His child. There’s nothing you can do to make Him come any closer to you, and there’s nothing you can do to make Him take a step away from you. That’s the beauty of our God.
So, if you’re in a season right now where God feels distant, I hope you’ll take the time to read over and meditate on these verses, all the while reminding yourself that God is always close, He’s always present, and He’s always walking with you every step of the way.
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The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. - Psalm 145:18-19
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? - Deuteronomy 4:7
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. - Acts 17:26-27
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. - John 14:16-17
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? - Psalm 139:7