Sometimes when we feel far from God, it’s easy to rely on our feelings and start to believe doubts that He’s not there or He doesn’t care. This is not true, and throughout God’s Word, we learn about a Heavenly Father that deeply cares for His children and will go quite literally to the ends of the earth for His child.
Do you feel far from God today? If so, let’s dive into a passage in the book of Luke and discover the truth about God in moments when we feel from Him.
Feeling Far from God
Where you are is not a surprise to our all-knowing God. If you feel far from God, He sees you and knows exactly where you are every single second of every single day. We know this because scripture tells us so.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10
Not too long ago, I was driving home lost in thought when I noticed something in the distance. A woman was wildly waving at me as I was driving down the road. She must have seen me coming from far away.
The couple of seconds it took to pass her I could see her full of delight as I drove by, smiling with the biggest of grins. She was genuinely thrilled seeing me. I didn’t realize it was one of my cherished friends until I was much closer to her. I barely had time to wave back but I sure saw her delight.
Those few seconds gripped me and lifted my soul.
Isn’t that what God does for us?
He sees us well before we actually arrive and He’s there waiting for us in delight, longing for us to return to Him.
Friend, when you feel far from God, do not let the enemy convince you there is no hope of return!
Why Do I Feel So Far Away From God?
When we feel far from God, it’s often a sin issue that needs to be confessed.
The story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32 is such a great lesson and encouragement when you feel disconnected from God or feel far away from Him.
This is an amazing reminder when you are feeling far from God to know that the constant love of the Father no matter where you’ve been or how far you’ve drifted from God.
In the passage, the younger son demanded his inheritance which essentially was him telling his father that he wished he were dead.
The father grants him this request and gives the son his share of his inheritance. The son takes the money and spends it all on a lavishly wild lifestyle. Eventually, he ran out of money and he went from having everything to absolutely nothing.
The son became so desperate that he could only hope that if he returned home, his father may possibly allow him to be a hired servant.
He finally decided to start making the long trek home.
…And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)
That’s exactly how God is.
The father in this parable represents God our Heavenly Father. If you feel far from God, your Heavenly Father has not left you.
Feeling Far from God – Know This
When you feel far from God, go back to truth. The truth is: He Sees Us. He Loves Us. He Never Leaves Us.
Wherever we are or wherever we’re coming from, He sees. Maybe you have no idea why you feel disconnected from God and your heart is just pleading, “Why do I feel so far away from God!?”
Even if, or rather when, we are so far off the mark and made some royally messy decisions in our life, He sees us and He knows the dirty details. He sees the parts we hope and pray never make the light of day.
He’s the God that knows our defeats, failures, and struggles. He hates sin and in His love, He offered His Son as a sacrifice to die for every single one of our sins so we could be in a personal relationship with Him.
When we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we become children of God! (John 1:12) He’s a patient Father full of mercy and boundless grace.
He is always eagerly waiting for us to come back to Him.
..Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son.. (Luke 15:20)
This is the love of God. This is what the kindness of God is that saved us from ourselves.
Related: Love Scriptures and Free Printables
Feeling Far From God – The Rescue Mission
I can easily picture this scene in Luke.
The son is weary, dirty, and dragging. He’s timid to return home but desperate.
He’s practicing what he’s going to say to his father when he gets there; praying he’ll at least have him back as a servant.
His steps are getting heavier the closer he gets.
He’s just come around the last bend and can barely see his house now. I can imagine he’s mixed with relief that he’s made it back but also dread to have to face his father that he abandoned.
He sees something small at a distance and as he continues to walk, he realizes it’s moving towards him at a quickening speed.
Finally, he realizes that it is what he has been dreading most.
His father.
The same father that he turned his back on.
The father that he essentially wished him dead when he asked for his inheritance.
His father whom he walked away from.
While all those things are true, his father can’t get to him quickly enough.
His father is filled with love and compassion and every ounce of it is for his returning son.
..he embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20
Arms wide open, his father nearly tackles him with the biggest bear hug.
It didn’t matter to the father that his son was filthy and disheveled.
All he saw was his precious boy coming home.
That’s exactly how God is.
When you feel far from God, He is faithfully waiting on you to return.
When You Feel Far From God: Return to God Immediately
The son finally gave his long-rehearsed speech and said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ Luke 15:21
But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” Luke 15:22-24 NLT
I am certain that in the son’s contemplation of returning home and essentially planning to beg his father that he be a hired servant, he had not considered this scenario.
I am sure he never imagined a feast and party take place in his honor, hosted by the father he had turned his back on.
His father was only focused on celebrating his son’s return home.
He didn’t dwell on where he came from or what his mistakes were.
His father did not dwell on the grime and filth he was covered in.
He harbored no bitterness and resentment for the pain the son had caused him.
He wanted to welcome his child with open arms and celebrate him for coming back to him.
That’s who God is.
Related: For Your Sake
When You Feel Far from God – The Embrace
This passage makes me consider the desperation of the son to return to his father. Everything he had was gone. He’d been stripped of everything. Whether we realize it or not, we are all desperate for God and the sooner we turn to Him, the better.
Every single moment of every single day God desires our hearts to be home in His. We are wired to daily depend on Him though so often we try to live in our own independence.
It’s easy for me to consider the human responses in this story. I can put myself in the father’s shoes and think the son owes him for the heartache he caused. Sure, a parent loves unconditionally but something must be done for the son’s actions.
Or to be in the son’s position and feel like I need to prove my worth because of all of the poor choices I made. Somehow “earn” back his father’s goodwill.
There are so many human responses and emotions that could play out with a story like this.
But God.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace, you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
God is the Father of mercies and of great love. We can hardly fathom the great riches He lavishes upon His children!
The gospel teaches us that redemption is ours through the blood of Christ. We never need to fear returning to God.
God knows where we’ve been, how we’ve failed, and that some of our treks back home are long, hard, and dreaded. Return to Him in desperation.
As soon as we come around the bend, desperate and in need of saving, He’s already there running towards us with His arms wide open ready to embrace us.
When You Feel Far from God – Soul Rest
When we come home to Him, the celebrations begin.
Our soul feels His peace and His joy.
He cleans us of all the filth and grime we’ve picked up along the way.
And our wear soul finds rest once again in the Father’s loving arms.
Feeling Far From God Verses
Below are a few additional verses when feeling far from God:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103: 8-10
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
I hope this brought encouragement to you today!
