Walking with god

When God seems distant

Friendships are often tested by separation and silence; you are divided by physical distance or you are unable to talk. In your friendship with God, you won't always feel close to him. 

Philip Yancey has wisely noted, "Any relationship involves times of closeness and times of distance, and in a relationship with God, no matter how intimate, the pendulum will swing from one side to the other." (Reaching for the Invisible God; Zondervan)

To mature your friendship, God will test it with periods of time when it feels as if he has abandoned or forgotten you. St. John of the Cross referred to these days of spiritual dryness, doubt, and estrangement from God as "the dark night of the soul." 

David probably had the closest friendship with God of anyone. God took pleasure in calling him "a man after my own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14)

Yet David frequently complained of God's apparent absence: 

"Lord, why are you standing aloof and far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?" (Psalm 10:1 LB)

"Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help?" (Psalm 22:1 NLT)

"Why have you abandoned me?" (Psalm 43:2 TEV)

Of course, God hadn't really left David, and he doesn't leave you.

Seeking a Feeling is not Worship

God has promised repeatedly, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Yet God has not promised "you will always feel my presence." In fact, God admits that sometimes he hides his face from us. (Isaiah 45:15)

There are times when he appears to be MIA, missing-in-action, in your life.

This is a normal part of the testing and maturing of your friendship with God. Every Christian goes through it at least once, and usually several times. It is painful and disconcerting, but it is absolutely vital for the development of your faith. 

The most common mistake Christians make in worship today is seeking an experience rather than seeking God. They look for a feeling, and if it happens, they conclude that they have worshiped. Wrong! In fact, God often removes our feelings so we won't depend on them. Seeking a feeling, even the feeling of closeness to Christ, is not worship.