God Seems Distant, Silent
SEPTERMBER 07, 2023 Edited (text edits, added links to verses)
Keep doing what you know you are supposed to be doing. If you have stopped the daily practices the Church teaches, then schedule a date (today) and time to start.
Blessed is the believer whom the master finds at work when he comes. (paraphrase) Matthew 24.46 (NKJV)
Stay involved. Keep your eyes open, be looking for the Lord at work.
Consider asking for prayer. But do not be disappointed if you are unable to detect a change.
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What do we want? We want to be able to testify as an expression of what we have experienced, God is near.
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What do we want? We want an awareness that the Holy Spirit is helping us. [Quick prayer: Thank you Jesus for not leaving us alone.] “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” [1 Corinthians 13.9 (KJV)](https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1co/13/9/s_1075009
Christians can have a sense of being close to God. For most Christians, that is not continuous starting at salvation. When we become aware of an inspiration from God, it creates a memory that becomes a reference point. If we enter a period where God is silent, the contrast from what once was becomes clear, uncomfortably obvious. Regardless of the truth, we can feel alone. God designed people to be in a harmonious, loving relationship with Him. When He seems distant, we miss the presence of our loving savior.
Look in the Bible for evidence of believers going through a period where their experience of God seemed distant; God was silent. Consider the following two verses. Are these Biblical precedents? Specifically note “infrequent,” and “silent.”
Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 1 Samuel 3.1 (NKJV)
“But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,"Job 34.29 (NET)
“The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."John 3.8 (NET)
What is your status?
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Do you agree with the statement: if you were to die right now, the essential part of you, soul, spirit, would be with God?
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You have searched your memory, your thoughts, actions, attitudes, and deeds for signs of depravity, sin that you fully embrace and plan to continue in - - but there is nothing that seems to fit your experience of God being distant, people would not say that depravity is a part of your life. Do you agree?
If either statement describes you, humble yourself before God and repent. Seek salvation if needed and stop sinning. Finally, attempt to enter into worship and see what happens. See section More, the article titled A Good First Prayer.
A Clear Conscience is essential
Conscience: Acquire a clear conscience before God. The foundation for this is humility before God, as best you can. We want to correct a problem, so let us be very conservative in our posture before God. For some, a prayed sincere apology to God separates us from the proud. You can go back later and make changes that are a better fit for beliefs. - Sometimes we discover something we are not free to do, but others can. For now, accept this. Stop doing what gives you a guilty conscience.
There will be more detail on the conscience in an upcoming article. The title is likely to have a reference to eating meat sacrificed to idols.
Involved: Stay involved. As much as possible, attend events with other Christians. Consider volunteer work as a gift to others. - Social isolation may not be a problem. The believer should think of social isolation as indicative of a problem. God and, or various therapies can resolve this.
Keep doing what you know you should be.
Ascetic Practices
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Pray Spend time alone, in secret, in prayer with God. Anytime sincerely attempting to pray is better than no time.
- Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice - alive, holy, and pleasing to God - which is your reasonable service.Romans 12.1 (NET)
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Fast One type of self-denial is to go without food. Take control of your desires. ``Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.’’2 Peter 2 (NET)
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Give Volunteer, resources, manage something, requires wisdom applied to work. Make things better.
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Memory Spend time regularly committing scripture to memory. Most adults do not practice this and the skill declines. Practice over time and it will become easier. Start by simply trying to remember a reference to a verse and the subject of the verse.
When God seems far, silent, the above can feel like a ritual, a set of rules, nothing but an exercise. That would be an error. As you do the above, do so sincerely. Sincerity requires heart and soul.
We seek a vibrant spirituality.
False Concerns
Many Christians, at one time or another, become concerned that they committed an unpardonable sin. Our topic concerns God seeming distant, which believers often associate with offending God. For reasons too lengthy for here, consider that the Holy Spirit convicts people of unrighteousness. To be `concerned’ is to be sensitive to the presence of The Third Person of the Holy Trinity in your life.
Wrongful Thinking
Sometimes Christians become concerned that they committed an unpardonable sin. However, to be concerned about this indicates that you have not turned your back on God, rejecting Him and choosing sin. Because that very concern indicates respect for God which includes sensitivity to the leading of His Spirit, so in complete confidence, you may know that you have not committed such sin.
The Holy Spirit will convict people of sin, righteousness and judgment.speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,1 Timothy 4.2 (NKJV) paraphrase (reated violations, ignoring or finding a way to suppress the feeling of guilt can result in a dulled or seared conscience. For more see 1 Timothy 4.2 (NKJV).
A Final thought
In some circumstances, God appears to bypass human-contrived checklists and directly impart inspiration. Sometimes we benefit from the faith of another Christian. Ask people to pray for you. Physical contact may be useful.
Prototype
‘Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. Leviticus 1.4 (NKJV)
New Testament
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.2 Timothy 1.6 (NKJV)
But physical content is not always required. Whatever you have experienced in spirit and you have learned from the Spirit, keep an open mind.
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,2 Thessalonians 1.11
Keep Your Eyes Open
Be looking for God at work, the pattern of God moving. When you see it consider trying to join in. Do this whether or not you have any experience in the area but you think you may be able to contribute.