There are moments in life where it feels like heaven goes quiet. You pray, but there’s no answer. You read your Bible, but nothing clicks. You go through the motions—church, devotionals, maybe even acts of service—and yet there’s a hollow silence where connection used to be. The kind of silence that makes you question if you’re doing something wrong, or worse, if God has walked away.
I’ve felt that more times than I can count.
But I’ve also learned something that has stayed with me: most of the time when I feel distant from God, He’s not the one who moved. It’s me. Slowly, quietly, I drifted.
The Illusion of Distance
It’s easy to assume that if we can’t feel God, He must be far away. But feelings aren’t always reliable. They shift with our stress levels, our emotional state, even with how well we’ve slept or what we’ve eaten. God’s presence, on the other hand, is constant. He’s steady, unwavering, and faithful—even when we’re not.
When I look back on those silent seasons, I usually realize it wasn’t that God had gone quiet. It was that I had stopped listening. Or I had become so busy, so distracted, that even when He did speak, I missed it.
It’s like being in the same room as someone you love, but your eyes are glued to your phone. They’re right there—but your attention is elsewhere. You’re near them, but you’re not with them. That’s how I’ve lived at times—spiritually near, but not connected.
When Routine Becomes a Wall
Here’s something I’ve noticed that’s a little uncomfortable to admit: the very spiritual routines that once brought me closer to God can sometimes become the thing that numbs me to Him.
It’s like going to the gym. In the beginning, every workout feels new, every muscle responds. But if you do the exact same routine long enough, your body adapts. You plateau. You stop seeing change.
That can happen spiritually too. We find a rhythm—wake up, read a devotional, say a prayer, check the box. At first, it’s a lifeline. But over time, without meaning to, it turns into autopilot. Routine can become a form of distance that looks like discipline, but lacks heart.
I’ve had seasons like that—where I’m technically doing everything right, but internally, I’m dry. I needed to shake things up, not for the sake of novelty, but to reawaken my heart.
Stirring It Up Again
I’m not saying we need to reinvent our entire spiritual life. But we do need to stay engaged. We need to be present. Try something different to draw near in a fresh way. Change your setting. Take a walk while you pray instead of sitting in a chair. Read Scripture out loud. Journal your thoughts. Try a different Bible translation. Turn off your phone and just sit in silence before God.
What matters most isn’t the method—it’s the mindset. Am I checking in out of habit, or am I really seeking connection? Am I showing up to say I did, or am I opening myself to hear something new?
Sometimes what I need isn’t more activity—it’s more honesty. Some of the most powerful prayers I’ve prayed have been raw and simple:
- “God, I feel far. I don’t know why. Help me see what I’m missing.”
- “I want to feel close again, but I’m not sure how. Remind me who You are.”
Even those unpolished, desperate prayers are steps back into intimacy. It’s not about polished language—it’s about a surrendered heart.
God Hasn’t Moved
I can’t think of a single time where I truly sought God and found nothing. Every season where I felt distant, I can usually look back and trace it to something real:
- I wasn’t praying.
- I was ignoring conviction.
- I was out of alignment with what I knew God wanted.
- I was distracted—chasing productivity, comfort, or escape.
God is always present. Always speaking. Always available. But He doesn’t force Himself into the noise of our lives. He whispers. And to hear a whisper, you have to get quiet. You have to lean in. You have to turn down the volume of everything else.
The Ongoing Invitation
Hearing from God isn’t a one-time experience. It’s not something reserved for mountaintop moments or spiritual highs. It’s a relationship. And like any relationship, it needs attention, presence, and intentionality.
If you’re in a season where you feel like you can’t hear God, don’t panic. Don’t give up. And definitely don’t assume He’s gone.
Ask yourself:
- Am I truly listening—or just going through motions?
- Have I made space for Him to speak—or filled my life with noise?
- Do I need to refresh my routine—or reconnect my heart?
Sometimes the silence isn’t God’s absence—it’s His invitation. Not to perform. Not to hustle. But to draw closer. To lean in. To trust that He’s still speaking.
And to remember: He hasn’t moved.
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