What do you do when God seems distant?

[supernova]

When you can't *see* the intimacy that you know you can, it's just not there?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. You keep trying to communicate--or, you ask yourself whether

you are expecting that presence to take a specific form, and it's actually taking some other form.

[Kajsa]

2. This always helped me when I felt detached from God.

"If you feel far from God, guess who moved?"

I continued to pray and meditate, and the connection would
eventually come back.

For me, it was a temporary disconnect.
It happens from time to time.

:pals:

[DollyM]

3. We all go throught that from time to time . . .

I think what helped me was a revelation of sorts I had one day. It occured to me that that God shares his spirit with us, his joys, his sorrows, and we have just a piece of that spirit. I think God pulls back from us sometimes because otherwise it would just too much for us to bear. It is kind of like a parent who is hurting and shuts the door so the child cannot see them in pain. I think God does that for us, it is a loving act, because he bears the burdens of the world. He does not want to overwhelm us, his children with those burdens.

[melonkali]

4. Perseverence and the "Dark Night of the Soul"

I've read about some of the mystics of Christian history who suffered through the terrible "dark night of the soul" when it seemed that God had completely abandoned them. Their reaction was to simply persevere, hold onto their faith, continue God's work, and wait for the light to return. Some of them endured this "dark night" for years. St. John of the Cross in particular is noted for his writings on the subject.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Wait, I suppose

I've been feeling that on and off for a few years now. I'm hoping that patience will be the key. To some extent "fake it till you make it", you know?

[shimmergal]

6. This is more usual than not

for me.

The standard image of God is a real stumbling block,because he comes across as a not-too benevolent Middle Eastern monarch. For me it's more helpful to concentrate on the other two persons of the Trinity. Jesus seems more accessible because of his human nature, and the Holy Spirit can encompass many different forms of divinity (including deities and concepts from other relgions).

St. Teresa's benediction is also helpful:
"Christ has no body on earth now but yours,
yours are the only hands with which he can do his work..." etc.

at least provides a guide to action.

[Adsos Letter]

7. That is my state more often than not...

I think about the life my wife lives, her way of seeing and approaching everything in life...I can see God there.

I think of my kids, and how blessed I am thru them.

I think of my far-from-perfect life, and the times when I believe God was aware of my needs.

These things help me believe God is near, even though, emotionally, he almost always remains quite distant.

Peace to you, supernova.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. Also, be alert to God acting and speaking through other people

even if the other people are not aware that they are doing so.

I can't tell you the times that some person just saying something not directed at me has provided the key to unlocking a dilemma. I was once wrestling with a problem when a conversation on the other side of the room, having nothing to do with me (and the two people didn't even seem aware of me) drifted into discussing a situation that was analogous to my problem--and provided an answer.

Once I was extremely worried about the emotional state of a friend, but it was a delicate matter, and I didn't know what to do. Then, one day, as church was letting out, I saw my friend talking to one of the retired priests, an individual who I knew (because I knew something of the circumstances of that priest's life) would have special insight into my friend's problems.

I felt that my prayers had been answered, and of course, not in any way that I expected. It's never in the way that one expects.

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. Know that either I've strayed, or that there is something I'm expected to do for myself.