I Don't Feel God's Presence...

How to Feel God's Presence When He Seems Absent

Have you ever felt like God just disappeared from your life? One day you felt close to Him, and the next, it's like He vanished without a trace.

If so, you're not alone in this struggle—even Jesus's closest disciples experienced this confusion when they watched Him literally float up into the sky after His resurrection in Acts 1:6-11:

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Can you imagine the disciples' confusion and uncertainty? One moment they are with God having a meaningful conversation about the future and the next moment He's gone! Clearly, they didn't know what to do as Luke writes that the disciples stood there "watching," "straining to see," and "staring into heaven" as Jesus ascended. After three years together, witnessing miracles, and experiencing the trauma of His death and resurrection, they were left wondering: 

"Did Jesus really just leave us?"

Interestingly enough, I realize that this dilemma is not all that dissimilar from what many people – myself included – experience and feel today. Many people wrestle with the same types of questions and emotions... 

"Where is God? Where did He go? I used to feel close to Him, but I don’t feel His presence in my life today. It’s like He’s absent… How can I trust Him if I can’t see Him? How can I believe He’s near to me if I can’t feel Him?"

The Real Problem Isn't What You Think

But after two decades of pastoral ministry, here's what's I've learned: the struggle for most people isn't that they can't see God physically. Most of us accept that there's a divine being we can't see with our eyes. The real challenge is that God's presence often feels absent or lacking in our daily lives.

The problem isn't God's presence—it's that we don't always feel His presence.

I know this struggle intimately. I've experienced seasons where God felt incredibly near, but I've also walked through prolonged periods where His presence seemed nowhere to be found. Through these experiences, I've discovered what it takes to feel and experience God's presence in practical ways and it's what I want to share with you. But, first...

The Midnight Sun Principle

In places within the Arctic Circle, residents experience something called the "midnight sun"—24 hours of sunlight during summer months. This "midnight sun" is experienced for weeks, and even months in some places!

But in winter, they face the opposite: months of complete darkness! This time of darkness is called the "polar night." People who live in this region will experiences days, weeks, and months of complete darkness with no evidence of the sun.

Yet during those dark winter months, no one panics about the sun disappearing or questions whether it still exists. They understand that the sun hasn't moved, nor has its function changed—but their experience of it has simply changed.

This is a powerful metaphor for our relationship with God. When we go through dark seasons where we struggle to see or feel His presence, it's easy to assume He's abandoned us. But just like the sun during an Arctic winter, God hasn't changed His position or activity. His presence remains constant even when our experience of it feels different.

Three Steps to Feel God's Presence

1. Remind Yourself of God's Presence

Jesus promised in John 14:18, "No, I will not abandon you as orphans." When you become a child of God, His Holy Spirit comes to live within you as both a sign and seal of His constant presence (see Eph. 4:30). During difficult times, remind yourself that you haven't been abandoned, forgotten, or neglected.

2. Reset Your Focus

Reminding yourself of God's promises is important, but it's not enough on its own. As long as you keep your eyes focused on your problems, troubles, or feelings, you will miss the Father's presence. God declares in Jeremiah 23:24, "Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" His presence is everywhere—you just need to reset your attention and your affection to see it.

3. Reflect Intentionally

This might be the most crucial step because it gives you awareness and evidence of God's presence in your life. We often miss God's presence simply because we don't stop to notice how He's working around us. Try asking yourself these four questions daily:

Keep Looking

Remember God's promise in Jeremiah 29:13: "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." 

Don't give up. God's presence hasn't left you—sometimes you just need to adjust your perspective to see Him more clearly. He's as close as your next breath, waiting to be discovered in the ordinary moments of your day.

Growing with you, 

– Ricky

Learn More

Watch the full sermon, "Where Is God?", to learn more about feeling and experiencing God's presence in your life.