I have been a Christian for 11 months. I cannot feel God’s presence so it makes me wonder if God is really there for me. I mean, maybe I have committed some sin that He cannot forgive. I have been prayed over many times by people in my church. I have diligently prayed the prayers I’m supposed to. I read the Bible (although in truth, they are just words on a page). While it’s true my life is not great right now, my main concern is “connecting with God”, feeling God’s presence so I can trust that He’s there for me.
I attend a Pentecostal church. I get very emotional at church services, even though I don’t want to be emotional. If I know I’m particularly emotional on a Sunday, I skip church because I just can’t handle another sobfest.
Everyone around me in church is filled with the Holy Spirit. I have only felt the Holy Spirit once. It was about a week after I accepted Christ as my saviour. The Holy Spirit told me not to do something – very strongly. I would really appreciate some advice from a Christian that is in the same boat as me.
Hi jovenviajero,
Claim God,s Promises. If you seek God ,He will draw near to you.
I would like you to consider Revelation14:7&12 as an invite to give your respect and reverence fully to God as he commanded in Eden (Genesis 2:2-3) and is now asking again.
To encourage you in THE LORD, read this man,s dream about this matter. http://4hispeople.com/sabbathvssunday
May God Almighty continue to guide and lead in your life.God,s Holy Spirit has also come upon me on several occassions, but to think that this glow is 24/7, and if that is what you truely desire, you need to walk hand in hand with God in Joyfoul and loving obedience 100%(without the 10% discount, you current apply). I am only a reader/messenger of God,s word, not the Author.
Pray to God and Exalt Him on High,share His saving power and grace with others then you will be fullfilled in Him.Peace be unto you. Your brother in Jesus Christ our Lord and Master.
I just know that God is not a feeling.
If you need to feel to believe that it is not faith anymore.
Let us make a case scenario:
Suppose you are a little girl and you are standing on the 2nd floor at a window where the room is on fire. Your father calls from down stairs and tells you to jump. He promised to catch you when you fall. Would you jump? If you trust your father you will. As a child trust and don’t worry every day like adults do if they will have enough to go on with their life, so should you trust that God will be with you through what ever may come against you because you became a Christian. There will be persecution but Jesus said they perscecuted Him and they will persecute us. The good thing about is they will remember our words as they remember His.
It is ok to have a broken heart because God is close to the broken hearted. Whether you feel it or not He does not change. His eyes are on the sparrow and he is watching over you.
Your sister in Christ, Suzana.
I am not too sure, Jo. But may I ask you, that did you try everything in your best to give up that sin? Don’t get me wrong, although you may fall into it at times, but God sees your heart.
For example, I have been struggling with pornography so I threw away everything(Dvds, Cds, even games; Mortal Kombat which has sexy female characters) that is related to sexual excitement although is mild in sexual content.
I know this amputation is too extreme from our human view, but I will not underestimate the power of amputating it. Because from subtle temptations can lead to bigger tempations. That’s the trick the devil may use anytime beyond our expectation.
I’m not too sure why you cannot feel the presence of God, because for me…I do feel his presence at times when My heart TRULY cries out to him and seek him. But sometimes I do feel as if he puts me to a test whereby….will i still continue to trust in him although I cannot feel his presence? You’re not alone here, Jo.
But yes, GOd desires us to obey him and try our best to get rid of that sin. Just like you said “The holy spirit told me not to do something-very strongly”
I believe the holy spirit is convicting you not to do something that is not pleasing to the eyes of God?
Can you please elaborate more so that I can probably help you out. But if you do find it too personal to share, you can write it in a more general sense so you dont have to be embarassed? Please email me in private, Jo 🙂
Dearest friend,
Do you understand that you said the Lord has spoken to you! Do you know how many pentecostal brothers and sisters have never heard his voice, but only pray in tongues! I encourage to give up what He said to give up. Next, read the gospels! Read all Jesus said and did. Read it out loud. Walk around with your bible and read His words aloud. Jesus said that His words are Spirit and Life! As for feeling the Lord? You cry in church! Have you never read that our Lord was a “man of sorrows” and “acquainted with grief”? He is looking for believers like you. Those who weep. I tell you the truth, the more you cry, the greater your joy. Read Isaiah 53! Read the gospels. Believe Jesus is actually like this, and you will understand how much of Jesus you already have. Don’t give up! Don’t give up!
don’t confuse God’s presence with emotional experiences invoked through circumstances. i know what you mean by not feeling God. i had that problem too and i thought i was doing something wrong. I analyzed myself and i began to find out that i never really BELIEVED in God when i started as a kid. i had to imagine him because i didn’t have the mental capacity to actually believe in an invisible creator. so all my life i went through a charade of being a Christian subconsciously thinking it was all an act to make everyone feel good even though i wasn’t really thinking that. when i realized that i was really thankful because now i know that you have to have faith and believe not imagine him as a giant old bearded man in the clouds. So really what you’re doing is searching for something you want to feel but you’re ignoring the reality of it. hope this helps because sometimes “just praying about it” and “reading your bible” isn’t appropriate for the situation when you’re already cast in disbelief.
BTW don’t skip church anymore and actually listen to what the message is. don’t feel it.
i use to feel the same way,till i gave up everything,secular music,different movies and shows,people i hang around with even my thoughts change my words change even the way i use to do things.now sometimes on and off i feel the same,(i say) God if you there why all the time i dont feel your presence.but God will speak to me,but fast,pray everday,seek him,and how you seek him,is to give up alot of things that you do everyday and just stand or sit in silence and get your self in the spirit.and seek him with all you heart,dont worry God is there with you,we just dont see him.
be encoruage/its normal to feel that way/just believe
Hello my friend,
I might feel like you, but I gave my life to Jesus almost 22 years ago. I am happy the way I am, but like many Christians I chose to be obedient to the God and make John3:16 my own. I do not speak in tongues or hear a voice talking to me like my mother will talk to me, I must say I wish my relationship was like that, but I believe He is in control of my life and loves me.
I am doing a course in the life of the Spirit and hope that He will empower me to become a doer, they say that when you get baptized in the Holy Spirit He can flow through you much better.
Jesus is the almighty and there are no other being that can come close to Him, so if you had to chose a god I believe Jesus is definitely the one to worship. ; ) We need to live in faith if we want to see Him, so in all your choices ask Him to help you to make the right one! I get the feeling you have not made Jesus your own, we must not look at other people and think that is the way we must worship God, a personal relationship is what we want and ask Jesus to come into our hearts to fill us with the Holy Ghost and your eyes will open to see the secrets in the Bible.
You are on the right path my friend, just try to talk to Jesus more and ask Him to help you!
Sincerely,
Hawk
Sometimes people who have been through trauma of some kind- or neglect- are out of touch with their feelings. I had to go to trauma counselling, art therapy and other counselling to learn how to label feelings. My suggestions is that it might be that if you are like me you may need to learn to connect with your emotions by learning how to feel joy, pleasure, peace, hope, love etc. a bit better. Start by getting a massage, going to a spa, doing physical activity etc. and write down how you feel after doing those things, get used to labelling emotions. Eventually you will be able to say “I felt relieved when God answered my prayer about x”. Don’t be put off by more demonstrative people at church- your faith is just as real and genuine and you are not sinning by not feeling. It may just be that you haven’t yet learnt HOW to feel. It took me 36 years but I am getting there, you can too!
Dear Friend,
There is no sin that is so great that God won’t forgive it…so please stop thinking that you’ve done anything or are doing something that is keeping God from you. God loves you and wants to be in your company as much as you want him to be in yours. When you reach out for him, totally surrender your heart and mind to God and ask him to remove the barriers that keep you from feeling his presence, which already abides in you. I’ve read the Gospel of John over and over…and it’s the one that speaks to me the most. It just explains the love of Christ to me better than anything else. I don’t know what your own personal way to feel God is..but I hope these words might help some…and I pray that your prayers to feel God are answered. Jesus said..love one another as I have loved you…so maybe if we just remember love and kindness,, it will fill your heart up with Christ. (I don’t have answers…just hoping the best for you). I’m betting that you have a kind and tender heart or you wouldn’t have asked for help in feeling God. I’ll bet that makes God happy. And don’t compare what others are feeling (or may only be pretending to feel) to what you feel. Your sincerity is precious. May God bless you! He loves you!!
Dear friend,
I can relate to what you’re saying. I also attend a pentecostal church. I grew up in the same church since I was born. Not until I was older did I realize what it really mean to be Christian. It’s not easy being Christian, but it’s worth it. We all have doubts, especially when we dont “feel” God. I’ve had that feeling many times, but I’ve learned that God is the closest when you don’t see him or feel him. He is still there.
Below are a few words I found on the internet that helped me understand that I must keep believing. I have felt God’s presence, and it wasn’t because I was emotional. I felt his Holy spirit in my body, and its undescribable what I felt. Sometimes we forget that feeling of his presence, but I encourage you not to doubt what you felt during that time when you felt him after you accepted him into your life. In God’s time he will fill you up again. Keep seeking him and keep reading his word! Also, I encourage you to get rid of everything that distracts you from God. Sometimes we get distracted and other things get in the way of us fully loving, seeking God.
here are the words of encouragement:
“Sometimes I feel so distant from God. During those times I wonder if He even acknowledges my cries. If He even hears the desperate prayers I send Him. My soul feels empty, yearning for His presence to fill it up again. But I wait and He still seems so far away.
The deepest worship to God is holding on to Him even when He doesn’t seem to be there. God will test your relationship with Him through silence. He wants to know where our faith lies with Him. If we let go the moment He hides, then what does that say about our faith? He is not concerned with whether you feel Him or not, rather He is concerned with the trust you put in Him. His silence helps us grow in our walk and it deepens our relationship with God. The one who holds onto Him through silence loves God much more than the one who only celebrates in Him during times of joy.”
God bless you.
I feel the presence of God when I read/meditate on the bible, or when I’m studying the word of God with another person (in all honesty), and especially when I worship him (music always seems to work). When I don’t feel his presence is because I willingly ignore his calling for me – He is always knocking in our hearts, he wants us to dwell with him, and in his presence there is always pleasantness and rejoicing.
Hi,The Lord is a forgiving God.Through my experience,I can give you some advice.The Lord is Holy and His heart desires to live a holy life.Sin can separate us from God but if you confess your sin He is faithful to forgive you.Do not feel sad,Jesus loves you even you can not see Him and feel Him.He is a good Shepherd and He is always watching you.You are still a baby Christian and I believe Jesus cares for you.Being a Born Again Christian you should have a true repentance and take a good relationship with the Lord Jesus like fellowship with Him,reading the Bible,praising Him and give thanks to the Lord inspite of that situation.Do not doubt to Jesus you must believe that He is your God,Lord,Saviour and King .He can be your friend too.Call upon His Name and through the Holy Spirit you will feel His presence and His amazing love.There are many ways that you can feel His presence for example,when you are reading the Bible it means He is talking to you,telling you His will and purpose in your life,
He will show you some sign like when you are in trouble,He gives you protection,when you are singing praise with all your heart the Lord is with you.I just want to let you know there are many ways that you can feel His presence.Take a deep relationship with the Lord Jesus and your joy will be complete.Do not doubt it will be a hindrance to your relationship with the Lord.Have faith in Him,Jesus will be with you wherever you are whatever you do.Because He promised us,He will never leave you and He will never forsake you.God bless you.Watch JC Praise on Youtube,their songs will encourage you.God bless you
Is God really there for you? You don’t feel his presence? I don’t know where to begin. As Christians, sometimes i think we sometimes have a misguided sense of God and what we should be looking for. When you say you don’t feel God’s presence, what do you mean? What feeling are you looking for? Is God really there for you, what are you expecting? As a young believer, it is important that you get with a strong group of believers and study the word. Notice I did not say go to church, but study the word for yourself and ask God to give you a better understanding of his word. It has nothing to do with your sins because we are all sinners no matter how long we have been saved. It is only through God’s grace and mercy and his son Jesus that we are saved. There is nothing you can or cannot do that will soave you. Only through Jesus are we saved. God woke you up this morning, that was his presence. Did you feel the sunshine on your face?, that was his presence. What about the wind or did you see the trees blow? We all feel God’s presence each day, but some of us don’t even recognize it or even say thank you God, all we do is look for more proof. Is God really there for you? the answer is yes, but the more important question is Are you really there for God? What have you done in the building of his kingdom? Eveyone wants to know what God can do for them, but is anyone asking what they can do for God? Get you a study bible,not just a holy bible. This will break down the scriputures and help you to understand what they mean. Life application study bible is a good one, but there are several study bibles on the market. Next get with a strong teaching ministry to help you to stay encouraged in this christian journey. Ask questions, read, study and ask God to help you reveal his words to you. 2nd timothy chapter 2, 15 verse says study to she thyself approved unto God. You can’t stand up in the middle of a church sermon and ask questions. Bible study gives you a solid foundation of Gods word. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand something. Mature believers should be happy to point you to the truth, which is the word of God.
God Bless
I feel just like you!
I accepted Christ as my personal savior about 3 months ago
but nothing. I was thinking is my fault ’till I read this article.
Let’s just keep on praying jovenviajero.
Dear Kathy, thanks so much for your encouraging response. Well, I have this constant burden in my heart because I feel that I don’t love God as much as I used to. I’m sinning a lot now and I feel gulty and bad all the time. I can’t even worship God freely now..and that is the worst part. Previously, I’d be able to feel His presence during worship even when I have had a sinful week. But now, all I feel is guilt and sometimes when I lift up my hands during worship and prayer, I’d feel like a hypocrite. Previously, I’ve been exercising some self-control. But now, I’ve sort of gave up…and I just sin. Somebody please help me in this….
Hello Anonymous,
I just said a prayer for you.
Don’t go by your feelings. God still loves you and you still love Him because you want to stop doing the things that you know are wrong. When you desire to do right that’s the Holy Spirit working in you, for without Him we wouldn’t want to do what’s right.
Give your sins to God in prayer and spend time in His Word {the Bible}. When you are weak God can make you strong. He’ll give you victory over the things you are struggling with. Trust in Him, don’t trust in yourself.
Also, don’t let Satan keep you from praising God. Keep praising Him even if you feel unworthy to do it, for when we worship God in sincereity and in truth the devil’s defeated and we get closer to God. Come to Him just as you are and He will heal you.
Hey Jjoy217, Thank you so much for praying for me! And I thank u for your word of comfort and advice. I’m seeing some slight improvement in my walk with God also. God bless ya! <3
Your welcome, friend. I’m glad that God has used my words to help you. And I’m also very glad to hear that your walk with the Lord is improving. Praise the Lord!
I hope that you’ll also pray for me. And I hope to see you in the Kingdom when Jesus comes again to take His chidren home.
May God continue to be with you and bless you.
you are a new christian, you may have already felt His presence and didn’t know it. keep praying, praising, and worshipping Him.
Im not sure how it goes exactly but i believe a few years ago I read a verse that said something to the effect of “When God seems far away, it is then that he is testing you”
god loves you ill pray 4 you to feel his presence….your in my prayers joven. 🙂 text me if you need anything else @ :256-694-0789
I have asked Jesus to save me countless of times. I also do the same thing like washing hands checking to see if the door is locked many times, things like this. When I ask Jesus into my heart I am ok for a while then when I hear the Gospel again I think that particular message is for me so I pray to Jesus again just like I check locks over and over. The compulsion is so great I cannot stop. I first asked Jesus Christ to save me in 1998. and I am still doing this today. I usually ask Jesus at least three times a day. I hear certain words like “walk” with God and I can only comprehend it as waiting for God to come and literally walk with me down the street. When I hear “seek God” I go outside and wander around looking in places to find Him. My thinking process is all fouled up. Tom
Hi jovenviajero, I’m in the same position as you. I keep struggling spiritually, because I’m scared I messed up my relationship with God. I’m just going to keep praying to God and hopefully find peace in my heart soon.
And Tom, it sounds like you have OCD. I’m the same way with some stuff, including asking Jesus to save me countless times. I always get scared I didn’t pray right the first time or something like that. My OCD is one of the reasons why I’m struggling spiritually, because it’s hard to control the thoughts in my mind.
But I hope everything gets better for all of you. Just keep praying and God bless you!
Firstly, who showed you to Jesus Christ and lead you to letting him into your heart, or if you made the journey on your own, what made you change your faith?
Hi..
I’m 42yrs old,married to a lovely wife and have two lovely children.
I’ve been a christian for about three years and I’ve never felt so lonely. I’ve tried many churches to find God but all I find are people who go to church to find friendships, coffee, days out and activities etc.
I have stopped going to church and try to find Him at home.
I have never felt His prescence or voice,never felt The Holy Spirit with any gift(and I have asked for all the gifts),I have been baptised, asked to be forgiven for all sins (even sins I may not be aware of), rebuked satan and demons from me, asked Almighty God to remove and show any obstacle that might be hindering my walk, I read KJ bible, tried calling His name by Yashua, Yeshua, Yahweh etc., I’ve had people pray over me, anointed myself with olive oil, tried to randomly opening my bible so a verse might jump out and hit me, tried worshipping and praising Him through music,never had a vision or dream from Him, never had a stranger, walk over to me and give me a message from Him, never experienced satan and demons attacking me for my belief (not that I want to, thank goodness), never seen a ghost or spirit of any kind.
I only believe in God through the bible and through people’s testimonies.
Why can’t I experience Him??!!
Keep seeking God in prayer, fast and read your bible. Declare his words on your life God will reveal himself to you. Receive His words.
I struggle the first months I was Save cause I couldn’t receive his Holy Spirit i only speak once but after that I couldn’t. I will ask myself why Lord If i have surrender everything but something was not willing to let me go. I suffered violence when I was younger for couple of years so my heart was broken my soul was broken. The person the made me so much harm I forgive but something had a chain that was not willing to let me go and I felt like a Shadow was on top of me.
I made the determination to do a Daniel Fast for 21 days which it was hard in my flesh cause I suffered from autoimmune disease. Well after the fasting was complete 5 days more happen when I was at home looking to a YouTube video it was a service about “walking with GOD and the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts” all of the sudden I had an encounter with God and was speaking in tougues which is was so strong cause it came with a a Holy Spirit Gift as well. God made me wait but during the time I pray, fast and read the word and seek him none stop and GOD did it. God is faithful and if you seek him with all of your heart, soul and mind he will show up. He loves you, reflect on your life and don’t ever give up. God Bless You. I Pray the God Reveals himself to you. In Jesus Name I pray AMEN.
Dear Joe,
do not measure your riches by comparing it to what you see. “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.†John 20:24
From your post itself, I see you ARE in the Lord. You know your family is blessed…that is from the Lord.
You are saved and baptized…that itself is the greatest miracle in your life and in all creation itself.
You have never experienced Satan and his demons…Praise the name of Jesus, do you know how anointed you are …How much power there is in that Name?? He wants you to believe in Him in the name of Jesus Christ.
As for your searching….I have the same experience.The Lord himself was a lonely man who could not find solace in Gethsamene from his best friends.Do not think that true Christian life will give you worldy satisfaction in any form.The closer you grow to the Lord, you will find dissatisfaction in the world. “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you\” John 15:19
Start asking in the name of Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Invite Him in the name of Jesus into every situation in your life.
Pray with me brother:
Father Jehovah God, in the name of Jesus,Joe and I, under the roof of your holy spirit, ask that you intervene in His life in a mighty way. We praise You for Your hand in his life and We ask, Holy Spirit, that he come to know You in the most intimate way.Joe is thirsting Lord, for the Your presence. You alone know what he lacks and craves. Lord, You alone can fill his emptiness. Father Jehovah God, let Joe discover the joy of living in the shelter of the Lord and FOR THE NAME OF JESUS.We rebuke, in the name of Jesus , every power of Satan in Joes life and ask You Holy Spirit to fill every vacancy in his life.We cover testimonyshare.com and our families and households in the blood of Jesus Christ .
amen
Do see the testimonies on this site :”stick fast to His word” and “take your stance against the evil one’s attack”
Praise the Lord, brother, you are blessed.
Amen
Joe,
also search the post of “not belonging” by Joy in this site…the comments will help you too.
Love
“Lord, you seem so far away, a million miles or more . . .” These are the lyrics of one of Don Moen’s songs. Quite revealing! it helps us know that there are times when HE, just,does not seem to be close.
Currently, I find myself in the same situation as JO and it was for this reason I decided to check for help from the internet. But as I came to this site, I began to have thoughts run into my mind – an explanation for why we feel God is far away.
My thoughts are: The feeling of distance is intended to achieve multiple goals in the life of an individual. It is not caused by God! Most times, the devil and his wicked spirits are responsible for this feeling. Remember Apostle James’ explanations: Count it all joy when you pass through diverse tests.
Remember I said demons cause these feelings but God uses it for a test. In fact, with this feeling, God is in a hurry to make you an adult, not a babe anymore. There is something in you that he wants to sharpen so that he can reach the WORLD through you. You noticed the highlighted word, right? That desire of looking for the HIM is what HE is looking for, for HE won’t give you anything you never ask for and seek with all your heart and might. Someone once told me that when such feelings come, HE is calling you to a more intimate relationship and closer walk with HIM. HE also uses it to burn up all of those things that isn’t pleasing HIM in our lives. Trust scriptures, this kind of discipline is always painful. In this state, note that the devil would always use doubt to pull you away if you aren’t careful. The intention is to make us give up and continue in the sin that we cling to.
Be glad that you are maturing! The length of time this is gonna continue is depends on how we respond to it – Our attitude. This situation is like fire and the two objectives of this fire is to purify us or burn us up. You can choose to be destroyed in this process. It all depends of the attitude! You can be fashioned into a very powerful instrument for God because of this feeling but it depends on our response. ***Sounds like God has a special breed of generals in the horizon.
The tough disciplining is to prepare you for the final onslaught against the powers of this world. It is to make us hardened – not being moved by our feelings or emotions. In my own case, I have a pretty hard time feeling sorrow, pain, happiness and sadness. And I ask myself “Is anything wrong with me”? The truth is that nothing is wrong with me. Have you every come across these special ops guys on duty. They are hardened and they look terrible. They feel nothing except the instructions given them. That is what GOD is turning us into because HE knows that we are gradually moving into the times when the world will be so enveloped in wickedness such that Christians who rely on feeling will be so faint-hearted. Scriptures tell us in these times, men’s heart will fail them. But God is preparing people, hardened generals who will lead HIS people. So, HE is getting us toughened so that when these tough times eventually, you will stand and be a salvation to many. Be rest assured that you are God’s general in the making. Maranatha!