A few years ago, Pew Research did a survey to find out what Americans mean when they say they believe in God. Although they found that a majority of people (56% to be exact) said they believe in God as described in the Bible, only 28% said they talk to God and that God talks to them, while almost twice as many (47%) said they talk to God but that God does not talk to them.1 The thing about statistics is that they always portray numerically what many of us already know experientially. And these statistics are no exception. So many of us say we believe in God, we affirm his existence, we trust what Scripture tells us about him, and yet, we still find ourselves feeling disconnected from him.
Our lives are complicated and, too often, chaotic. We’re daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, wives. We’re students, teachers, lawyers, artists, politicians, doctors, CEOs. Our day-to-day lives pull us in what feels like a hundred different directions, from late nights at the office, to weekends spent chauffeuring kids, to trying our best to be the world’s greatest aunt/boss/sister/girlfriend. Even so, the world continues to turn, rolling out so many hashtags, campaigns, social causes, cries for justice, we can hardly keep up. And while we do our best to manage our hundred-miles-an-hour lives, so many of us do so looking forward to the rest we hope we’ll find at the other side of one more deadline or promotion, one more bake sale or booster club meeting, one more blind date or pound lost.
This is, after all, what it means to live in the twenty-first century, or so we tell ourselves. And while that may be true, our longing for rest, our longing for stability, for something we can depend on, someone we can trust, is as old as time. So, we do what so many Christians have done before us. We pray. We reach out to God—the God we believe in, the God of the Bible—only to find ourselves on the wrong end of a statistic, on one end of what can feel like a chasm of universal proportions.
It’s one of the ironies of life that it’s in the midst of the hard moments, when we feel most disconnected from God, that we’re led to ask the deep questions of faith. Questions like, “Are you there, God? Are you working in the world? Do you keep your word?” The same questions that have been asked by countless generations before us.
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to unpack these questions as we study the covenants we find in Scripture. And as we look at how God has worked in the world and in the lives of his people, we’ll be reminded once again that not only is God there, but more importantly, he is here—with us, always present and always working in our world and in our lives.
1 “When Americans Say They Believe In God, What Do They Mean?,” Pew Research Center, Pew Research,April 23, 2018, https://www.pewforum.org/2018/04/25/when-americans-say-they-believe-in-god-what-do-they-mean/04-25-18_beliefingod-00-00/.
I never thought life circumstances would cause me to feel disconnected from God….I’ve been able to stay near Him and cry out to him and worship him through hard times….but this past March…just 3 months ago , my only sibling, my 39 year old brother had a stroke, then there were things the hospital did wrong that lead to his death. My parents and I were there fighting and praying and believing and seeing improvements then something else would happen to take steps backwards. We followed God’s Word and lead to pray, worship, believe his healing , etc…. But God still chose to take him. The day I lost my brother I also lost my mother. She’s an emotional and mental mess and my dad is waiting to find out if his body can handle a liver transplant. They live 12 hours from me as well. I know God tells us we will have trials and of course everyone will die….but this situation and how it played out went against all we believed in his word and in him. Having a hard time coming before him and crying out to him and trusting him because I feel like he didn’t keep his promises in his word.
My heart hurts for you! You and your family have been through so very much. I pray that you will feel the Lord’s presence in such a real, personal, and powerful way, and in such a gentle way as well. Blessings to you, my dear Sister-in-Christ.
Kathryn
Most areas, marriage is biggest one
Sometimes I feel God is not showing up in an area of personal body freedom. Sometimes I feel like God is wanting this to be a thorn for me like Paul’s thorn. I know I shouldn’t let that be the one thing that keeps me from being totally free to engage with people or build intimately with other woman but it does get it in way for me to be totally free with female relationships.
I talk to God almost constantly, I am alone all day until 9 pm and then it’s bed time. He is my companion. But I don’t hear from Him. I sometimes feel His presence but don’t feel he is guiding me. I think I just don’t know how to fully submit and allow his guidance. I want it and long for it but just don’t know how!
So many areas it’s overwhelming.
Financial- Husband lost his job and has not found a new one. Need a new car but don’t have finances to buy one. Enrolled our kids in private school, felt led by the Lord to do so but now not sure how we can pay for it.
Health- Multiple family members and friends with new cancer diagnosis and uncertain outcomes
Family- Daughter not walking with Jesus and has mental health diagnosis that makes me fearful for her future
Yes! My husband and I just found out that our ministry partners are leaving in 2 weeks, with no warning or conversation about them looking for other positions. We are hurt and confused and wondering how we are going to keep up with ministry alone. We are praying desperately that God will show up in a way we could never ask or imagine.
I feel disconnected from God the most is when I get to busy. I have to sit back and remember He is there even in the busy times of life. I have gotten better at this as I get older but at times I find myself in a hurry and feel lost.
with my toxic new daughter in law who is suffering from her parents new divorce causing a form of alienation to us, her extended husband’s family. crushing our hearts and spirit but trust God is at work; pray the LORD turns her eyes to Him and fills her with His Spirit.
All of them. It seems like if it’s not family, it’s school, husband, kids, work, church etc. hitting me from every direction like whiplash. Hindsite I see Him, but in the midst it’s difficult.
I need God to show up in my work. My current place of work has times where evil seems to be glorified and God is shoved onto the back shelf.