When God Feels Far Away: 6 Scriptures & Action Steps

What to do when God Feels Far Away: Burned-out, doubting, full of questions… if you’re in that space, you’re not alone. One of the hardest seasons in the Christian life is the one where God seems silent, distant, or absent—even though your routines, prayers, and Scripture time haven’t changed.

In this week’s video, “For the Struggling Christian,” I walk through 6 passages and “action words” using the acronym H.A.N.D.L.E to help you in this tender, turbulent time. These steps are meant to lead you into Scripture, allow you to dwell, and help your heart respond to God even when He feels far. A free PDF chart accompanies the message — just download below, watch the ~10-minute video that goes with it, and let God meet you where you are.

Why This Matters: God’s Silence Can Be So Scary

• Even mature believers can feel distant from God. It doesn’t always mean you’ve fallen or sinned.
• It’s especially hard when you should feel close—quiet times, prayer, Bible reading—yet you feel nothing.
• But sometimes God pulls back so we lean into Him in a different way—through lament, listening, waiting.

If you’re walking through a valley like this, I hope these “HANDLE” steps bring you some direction and comfort.

Free Resource + Video

HANDLE: Six Steps for When God Feels Far Away

Below is a map of the steps. In the video (and PDF), I give you specific Scripture passages to sit with, and questions to pause over.

Letter	Action Word	What You Do	Why It Helps
H	Humble	Admit you can’t fix yourself; confess performance-thinking; receive God’s delight in you	Releases striving and recenters your identity in grace
A	Ask	Bring honest questions; identify temptations and open doors; put on God’s armor	Names vulnerabilities so you can resist and stand firm
N	Name	Write your fears, doubts, and concerns before the Lord	Brings hidden burdens into God’s light where He comforts and guides
D	Declare	Speak Scripture over loud feelings; rehearse gospel truths daily	Truth stabilizes emotions—you fight with promises, not willpower
L	Let Go	Surrender control and self-condemnation; practice confession and receive mercy	Makes room for grace and ends guilt–anxiety cycles
E	Embrace	Count trials as joy; choose one small obedience; fix your eyes on Jesus	Builds endurance and hope as God matures your faith

(In the video & PDF, each of these has 1–2 passages you can read slowly, journal through, and pray over.)

How to Use This in Your Season

1. Download the free PDF chart (link below). Use it as your guide.
2. Watch the video first (about 10 minutes). Let me walk you through HANDLE so you’re not confused.
3. Pick one letter per day (or per week)—don’t do all six at once.
4. Read the full chapter around the outlined passages, to see God’s context and voice.
5. Return to HANDLE when the weight feels heavy again. It’s not a one-time fix when God feels far away but a companion.
6. Journal & pray after each step. Write what you feel, what resists, what you hope for.

Encouragement for Your Heart When God Feels Far Away

• You’re not failing. Spiritual dryness or distance doesn’t always signal sin or wrong faith.
• God’s absence doesn’t mean His absence from you. He’s still there—even when it doesn’t feel like it.
• Lament is holy. When David cried, he didn’t lose faith—he expressed reality (Psalm 13, 22, 42).
• Trust is a muscle. You may not feel like you believe, but it’s okay to do faith when you don’t feel it.
• Community matters. Share with someone you trust—don’t walk this season alone.

When God Feels Far Away: The Last Word (for now)

If you’re still reading, it probably means you’re tired, you’ve tried, and you’re not seeing movement. That’s real. Here’s the truth you can stand on: your feelings are not the foundation of your faith—Jesus is (1 Cor. 3:11). Your access to God doesn’t rise and fall with your emotions; it’s secured by Christ’s finished work (Heb. 10:19–23). You can walk by faith when your feelings are quiet.

Tiny faithful steps (that actually help)

• Name what hurts. Write a 3-line lament: what you miss, what feels dark, and one thing you know is true about God (Psalm 13; Psalm 42).
• Open the Word anyway. Set a 10-minute timer. Read the assigned HANDLE passage slowly. When the timer ends, stop. Let small faithfulness stack up.
• Pray short and honest. “Father, I feel far. Please meet me. Hold me fast.” God hears short prayers (Matt. 6:7–8).
• Stay with your church. Show up, sing with the saints, take notes, ask for prayer (Heb. 10:24–25). Isolation magnifies doubt; community steadies it.
• Reduce pressure, not presence. You can shorten your routine without skipping it. Faithfulness > intensity.
• Serve someone quietly. A text, a meal, a ride. Love moves fog (Gal. 5:13–14).

What to do with your doubts

• Bring them to Scripture, not just the scroll. Questions grow in echo chambers. Compare your doubt to God’s Word, not to hot takes.
• Ask a mature believer to walk with you. A pastor, women’s ministry leader, or trusted friend. God often answers “Where are You?” with “Here are My people.”
• Confess any known sin quickly. Not all distance is from sin, but unconfessed sin numbs the heart (1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:3–5).
• Consider your body. Sleep, nutrition, and stress shape how you experience God. Steward your frame (Psalm 103:14).

If you’re in a heavy place

• Depression and anxiety are not disqualifiers. They’re burdens Christ can carry with you (1 Pet. 5:7).
• Get help. Talk to your pastor and, if needed, a wise, biblically grounded counselor. Acute hopelessness is an emergency—tell someone today.
• Keep a “mercy log.” One small evidence of grace per day: a verse, a text, a sunrise. Remembered mercies fuel tomorrow’s endurance (Lam. 3:22–23).

A simple prayer to pray all week

Father, You are near even when I can’t feel You.
Anchor me in Your Word.
Expose any sin I need to confess, and give me courage to turn.
Teach me to lament without leaving You.
Grow my trust while I wait.
Thank You for Jesus, my living hope. Amen.
(Psalm 34:18; Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 1:3)

Journal prompts to pair with HANDLE

• H – Humble: Which performance-based beliefs do I need to confess today?
• A – Ask: Where am I most tempted when I feel distant from God?
• N – Name: What fear or doubt do I need to write without editing?
• D – Declare: Which truth from today’s reading counters my loudest feeling?
• L – Let Go: What control am I gripping that I can hand back to God?
• E – Embrace: Where can I practice endurance this week with my eyes on Jesus?

Keep going (even slowly)

You are kept—by the power of God through faith (1 Pet. 1:5). Seasons shift. Fog lifts. Until it does, let HANDLE be your small, steady way forward. Read a little. Pray a little. Show up with your church. Ask for help. Jesus holds you when you cannot hold Him (John 10:27–29).

Next right step: download the PDF, watch the 10-minute walkthrough, and invite one friend to do HANDLE with you this week. You don’t have to do this alone.