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 a disconnect from God on His plan for the work/job I am to be doing. I desperately need Him to show up to let me know my husband and I will be able to pay rent, to buy groceries, etc. We are financially tapped out. I know He has heard prayers, but….
I’m struggling on so many levels with this season of life. It’s too complicated to share here, but if you would pray for me I would appreciate it.
Praying for you to know God’s presence in a very real way in the midst of your hard, messy, broken, complicated in this season of life. Also praying that he will show his love to you through others around you in very practical ways as well as showing you opportunities to love others through simple acts of kindness. Praying Proverbs 3:5-6 and James 1:2-4 over you now.
Yes of course, but only for selfish reasons nothing on this earth is meant to last. Especially it seems the little fur babies in our lives have the littlest amount of time. Our Zoey Zoey is getting put down tomorrow and I’m so totally devastated. But I do so totally thank Jesus for the way she instinctively kept showing up for me and showing that she missed me when I wasn’t there. I’m just so grateful for these moments and know that God uses these sweet, little relationships to show he is there and loves us, especially when we have to say goodbye.
I pray for God to show up in my unbelief. It has been my experience that when I receive revelation knowledge I grow in Grace and closeness to God. As an overcomes, I share the testimonies of my life.
I need God to show up in all His glory and majesty in the lives of my daughters. Specifically my 17 year old who seems very disconnected from Him although she has grown up with Him in her life daily. Lord, Kali needs You!! Please show her the power in Your Name!!!
Everywhere feels broken right now. I used to find comfort in the church but now I just feel numb. Working through anxiety right now like I have never felt before.
Decisions I need to make about work, what to do, where to go, where to live…I want Him to lead me & guide me…
I just feel disconnected in general. So many things distract me from being aware of His work and presence. I’m not sure I need Him to show up as much as to take time to wait on Him, look, and listen.
I need God to be my all in all. I need to fully submit my life and will to Him and let Him lead me and guide me in my next steps, next job and next place I live. I am open to all things from Him.
I feel like God is in everything. I may not always enjoy every single situation or circumstance but I do find myself hanging on to God and to his promise of being with me in the midst of all things.So many times it is in those desperate situations when I’m drawn even closer to God. He is with me always. He always shows up. I’m the one who sometimes doesn’t.