Tag Archives: reality

When You Can’t Feel God in Your Life

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a cloudy day when you can't feel the sun

When You Can’t See or Feel the Sun

The other day, Matt and I went for a walk early in the morning. I eagerly anticipated the sunrise; sunrise is the best part of the day! The closer we got to sunrise, the more I realized it was just not going to happen. It was too cloudy and overcast. A depressed sort of feeling came over me; I’d really been looking forward to the sunrise. I looked at my phone to see the weather for the day. Not only was there no sunrise, but there wasn’t going to be any sun all day long.

As I walked, I looked up at the sky. I knew the sun was up there; it had risen as it does every single day. Yet, I couldn’t see it or feel it because it was behind the clouds.

Knowing but Not Seeing

It made me think about our relationship with God and how it’s similar to a cloudy day. We know God is there, but we can’t see him or feel him. So it feels like he’s not there. When we’re going through a difficult time or a hard season, it feels like God is nowhere near us. Yet, those facts aren’t based on reality. The reality is that Jesus is right beside us. He promised to never leave us or forsake us. He’s kept that promise to his children for hundreds of years, and he’s not going to go back on his word now.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Our Reality isn’t Based on Feelings

We have to remember in difficult seasons that what we feel is simply that—feelings. We can’t base our reality on our feelings. If we did, we would make a lot of really bad decisions. Instead, we have to base our reality on what we know to be true.

Here’s a few facts that we know to be true:

  1. God is good.
  2. He loves me.
  3. He is for me.
  4. God will never leave me.
  5. God watches over and protects me.

Just like we know that the sun still shines even when it’s behind the clouds and we can’t see it; we know that God hasn’t left us, even when we can’t see him. So base your reality today on what you know to be true, not on what you feel.

For More Encouragement

For more encouragement, check out my post Getting Through this Season of Rainy Days or try our 30-day devotional, You Are Not Alone.