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 feel him knocking but I can’t seem to open the door. Work, home, family. If I may ask for prayers for my daughter!
I feel lonely. Disconnected in my relationships. I have to be honest with myself and say the feelings of discontent is probably because I’m not spending quiet time with the lord first. I’ve let the noise of the world take all my attention and it leaves me feeling disconnected from God in so many ways. I need God to show up in my relationships. The lack of them and the pursuit of new girlfriends who have time to build God centered friendships. I just need more women in my corner.
I feel like I’m lacking or disconnected with God when I feel exhausted/overwhelmed with the kids. My patience is dwindling, my frustrations are growing, and I just want to run away. It’s so hard to turn to God. I’ve learned that if I lock myself in a room and take a few minutes to be alone, pray, cry, whatever I need, I can connect with God and find my strength through Him.
In healing of my mom- I see the physical pain on others and o know my God is capable of this healing- I’m just not sure how he wants to use me in this. I know there is a great call on my life- as there is in so many others- but sometimes I get bogged down in ‘why not yet’ I pray that I do this study well – help me to be a good leader- and I pray that He is glorified above all else.
Teaching-school. I have a new position at a private International School and the work load is overwhelming. I felt God leading me to this position and the school was created based on a background of Roman Catholic beliefs but there are many students of different faiths now attending and so I feel that the Christian part is getting watered down. We pray 2x per day but to "God" or "Creator". Jesus is not mentioned. It is much better than the public school board where I used to teach in that way, however I feel lost and exhausted. I know that God is there with me, leading me but I don’t feel connected to Him like I usually do and I’m so busy I hardly have time to daily devotions. I pray and play worship music while driving to school, desperately seeking His presence and help throughout the day. I just feel very alone and exhausted!
Health for myself and my circle. I’m suffering pain and discomfort from prolonged sitting and technolpgy use due to my lifestyle. Dear friends and some family are battling health issues and painful loss. It’s difficult to feel his steadfast faithful with all the tough news.
Sherry, this resonates with me! Although I’m in a secular workplace, the hurry and resulting disconnect from the Lord in our workplaces seems similar. I’ll pray for you to better feel His presence and peace while spending so much time on your work. Sending love and care!
I believe and have faith in God but i never truly hear Him or feel His presence, I’m alone all the time. I don’t have family and minimal but no close friendships and just feel so alone and that God hears my cries but doesn’t do anything to even acknowledge them. Relationships is where I need him to show up
I Need God to Show up in my Family my relationship with my Kids and with other Members of the Family . I Need God help me to unterstand his will For my life .I would like he accomplish more.
And I feel disconnected and numb I cannot make the difference anymore ….
In my work. I work in corporate America and I struggle spending so much of my time each week focused on it. I do try to invite God into it, setting alarms to remind me to pause and pray each morning and afternoon. But this is one area where I feel like God doesn’t respond and that I don’t always have my sights set on Him. It feels so overwhelming at times and I so desire His peace.
In this season I feel so much. While the last nearly 2 years haven’t been ideal in this world, I’ve found great healing, gratitude, strength, contentment. This was the time I needed to shed my life of what’s unimportant, the people who don’t show up, the toxicity, and I’ve found myself happier than I’ve been in so long. I’ve connected to my faith in a different way and really listed and been obedient when I hear Him. The one place I need him is my relationships. I’m a single only child. I would love to have a family of my own. I have prayed for this. Asked Him to guide me in love to no avail. This is the first time I’ve felt ready and I truly love who I am in my now. I don’t know his plan, but I keep showing up and answering as it’s all I can do.
Well, I really do not even know where to begin. There has been so many trials and tribulations that I have endured in my life, that I must say that without God I would have never made it through. My not so good experiences in life has made me stronger and realize just how important I need God every day in my life. One of the greatest gifts that God has given me, is the ability to inspire young minds. I tend to do that every day in my teaching profession. I will be honest though, I feel that I do not pray enough or read my Bible enough throughout my every day duties.