Episode 38
38 | Feeling Far from God? The Truth When God Feels Distant
Do you ever feel like you’re spending time in prayer, but God feels far away? You’re not alone.
In today’s conversation, we’re diving deep into that spiritual struggle of feeling distant from God — even when you’re doing all the right things, like praying and showing up. We'll talk about what might really be happening beneath the surface, the sneaky spiritual battles that can keep us from feeling connected, and how to hear God’s truth and anchor yourself in His Word when you can’t feel Him near.
If you're ready to break free from that feeling of being stuck, grab your favorite pen, your Catholic Bible, your notebook, journal, and a quiet space. Let’s walk together through this conversation — one that will remind you that God is always closer than you think.
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
✨ Next Steps:
- Ready to Discover Your Unique Purpose with Clarity? Book your 1:1 Purpose Coaching Session Here
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✨ Feedback or Questions? Contact me at hello@michellebrannam.com
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🕊️ Scripture Mentioned:
Transcript
And the devil, he did what he aimed to do to keep me from God.
Speaker A:To come between us.
Speaker A:You pray, you show up.
Speaker A:But lately he feels distant.
Speaker A:If you've ever wondered why, you can't seem to feel his presence even when you're doing all the right things, you're not alone.
Speaker A:In this episode, we're talking about what's really happening when you feel far from God, the spiritual battle behind it, and how to connect with his voice and presence again.
Speaker A:If you're ready to feel close to God again, grab your notebook, journal and your favorite pen and let's dive in.
Speaker B:If you're ready to break free from stuck, gain clarity and take steps towards discerning your unique purpose, all while following God's guidance to become the person he created you to be.
Speaker B:If so, you're in the right place.
Speaker B:Hello, I'm Michelle, a Catholic discernment mentor and spiritual coach.
Speaker A:Her who went from lost and questioning.
Speaker B:My purpose to confident in my unique calling using a Catholic based strategy that places God and the Catholic faith at the center.
Speaker A:Are you ready to dive in?
Speaker B:Grab your pen and notebook and get comfy, Open your heart and mind and invite God in.
Speaker B:As we get ready to become who God created you to be.
Speaker A:Let's do this.
Speaker A:If you've been praying for clarity and asking God, what is your plan for my life?
Speaker A:I want to personally invite you to join me for a special live event called the Discern your purpose workshop.
Speaker A:It's free, it's live, and a 45 minute workshop created just for Catholic moms who want to get closer to God and finally start uncovering the unique mission that he designed for them.
Speaker A:During our time together, you'll learn how to build your discernment plan, deepen your relationship with God and better understand yourself so you can start recognizing the clues that God's already been revealing to you.
Speaker A:And you don't have to figure this out alone.
Speaker A:Come spend this time with me and the Holy Spirit and let's start building your unique path to live out God's plan for your life, join me live on November 17th.
Speaker A:Sign up at bit ly bit ly discernpurposeworkshop.
Speaker A:That is bitly bitter period.
Speaker A:Ly discernpurposeworkshop.
Speaker A:And the link is also in the show description.
Speaker A:All right, so let's dive in.
Speaker A:I remember when I was in middle school and one night during ccd, that's what they called it back then.
Speaker A:That's not what they call today, it's psr.
Speaker A:So one of our teachers, they led us through a Christian meditation.
Speaker A:And I loved it.
Speaker A:And I came home, I wanted to try it.
Speaker A:And when I got home, I was laying in bed starting to repeat what they had taught us going to Jesus to be.
Speaker A:To be talking with Him.
Speaker A:But what happened instead frightened me so much that I ran into my parents bedroom and I exclaimed, the devil came.
Speaker A:I told them that I was doing the Christian meditation that they taught us in class tonight.
Speaker A:And my mom said, whatever you did, don't do that again.
Speaker A:And you can believe me that I never did that again.
Speaker A:I was afraid and I didn't want to see the devil again.
Speaker A:I was afraid to say prayers, to lay in bed in the dark.
Speaker A:But you know what?
Speaker A:The devil won that battle.
Speaker A:He entered and he kept me from talking to God for a very long time.
Speaker A:I felt afraid.
Speaker A:And the Devil, he did what he aimed to do to keep me from God, to come between us.
Speaker A:Now fast forward to many, many, many years later.
Speaker A:It wasn't until several months ago actually, that I realized what had happened.
Speaker A:Through my spiritual reading and spiritual growth, I learned that the Evil One, he does not want us to be in a relationship with God.
Speaker A:He is trying to keep you from God, just like he did to me then and he still is doing to you and me today.
Speaker A:And I didn't understand that as a child, but now I can see it clearly.
Speaker A:The fear, the confusion, the feeling of being far from God.
Speaker A:That's the enemy's tactic.
Speaker A:He wants us to believe that God isn't near, when in truth he's right beside us, waiting for us to turn toward Him.
Speaker A:At that time, I had no idea.
Speaker A:It wasn't until years later that I finally understood what was really happening.
Speaker A:And that's why I want to share with you the truth about not feeling close to God and what you can do so you can feel him closer to you.
Speaker A:So the truth that not everyone knows or even aware of is that there are spiritual attacks on us.
Speaker A:It is a daily battle.
Speaker A:As a daughter of God, there is a battle for our souls.
Speaker A:The evil One.
Speaker A:He does not want you to go to heaven.
Speaker A:And that's why Scripture tells us to armor up.
Speaker A:In the Ephesians 3:11 we read, put on the armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wills of the devil wearing the belt of truth around your waist.
Speaker A:That means you're anchoring yourself in God's word.
Speaker A:When we do not feel close to God or we sense that he's not near, that's often a time of desolation.
Speaker A:Now Saint Ignatius of Loyola noticed that we go through these cycles, these phases I like to call them.
Speaker A:But it's the times of consolation and times of desolation most of us are aware of.
Speaker A:The Holy Spirit helps guide us and can affect us, but there's also the evil Spirit that can also affect us as well.
Speaker A:So when we feel God is not near, it's often a sign that we're in desolation.
Speaker A:But here's the key.
Speaker A:Shifting your mindset can help you move through this phase quicker.
Speaker A:Having the right mindset, tools, strategy, and knowing that it's a phase and not permanent can help you move into consolation and feeling God near you again.
Speaker A:So here's the practical but simple spiritual exercise that you can do.
Speaker A:I want you to grab your journal and I want you to go to a quiet space somewhere where there's no distractions.
Speaker A:And this is where you can do your best thinking.
Speaker A:Write everything down as though you're speaking to God and just get it from your mind to paper.
Speaker A:And just tell Jesus what's weighing on your heart and mind, especially when you feel that he's not near or present.
Speaker A:Take the time.
Speaker A:Don't rush this moment.
Speaker A:Maybe light a candle or use flameless candles.
Speaker A:I recently started using flameless candles and I really like it.
Speaker A:It helps me really concentrate and feel more closer and open to God and helps me better reflect.
Speaker A:And I want you to find a comfortable spot.
Speaker A:Now, after you've written everything out, look back over what you wrote.
Speaker A:Be gentle with yourself and look and see.
Speaker A:Is there anything in your words that isn't the truth?
Speaker A:It's not God's truth.
Speaker A:So for example, when you're feeling like God is not near you and you're writing that down, that God I do not feel like you're near me, that's not God's truth, that's what you're feeling.
Speaker A:So let's anchor ourselves in what is true.
Speaker A:Such as if you turn to Deuteronomy 31:8, I quote, it is the Lord who goes before you.
Speaker A:He will be with you and will never fail you.
Speaker A: , or you can turn to Jeremiah: Speaker A: And then Matthew: Speaker A:Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Speaker A:And lastly, I have is Hebrews 13:5.
Speaker A:Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.
Speaker A:And I want you to anchor yourself in this truth.
Speaker A:Pick one Pick two that really stick out to you and hold on to that, anchor onto that truth.
Speaker A:And this is why it's just so important to have, I believe, a mindset strategy, a box of tools to help you get through life's journey because there is a battle and it helps us move through desolation and those limiting beliefs.
Speaker A:Here's what you should anchor to from this episode.
Speaker A:Desolation is temporarily and it doesn't mean that God is gone.
Speaker A:It's just a phase or cycle that we are going through.
Speaker A:The enemy's goal is separation.
Speaker A:So be alert to the spiritual attacks and stand firm in God's truth.
Speaker A:And then I want you to anchor in Scripture.
Speaker A:God's word is your weapon and comfort and journal honestly with Jesus.
Speaker A:Bring everything to him.
Speaker A:Then identify what's not true and replace it with his truth.
Speaker A:Let us pray in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father, today we ask that you remind us with your truth that you are never far, you are always near.
Speaker A:We come seeking you with our hearts.
Speaker A:We want to feel you near us.
Speaker A:Help us to recognize when the enemy tries to discourage or confuse us.
Speaker A:You are not a God of confusion, but of clarity.
Speaker A:You encourage us, but you never discourage us.
Speaker A:Help us to draw close to you and help us to feel your presence even in the moments of silence.
Speaker A:Thank you for never leaving us, never forsaking us, and for walking beside us through every season of faith.
Speaker A:We ask this in Jesus name.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.
Speaker A:Knowledge is power, but true change happens when it's paired with that consistent daily action.
Speaker A:And we cannot gain clarity if we're not taking daily action to move forward.
Speaker A:So practice this today.
Speaker A:Invite God in and tell Jesus what's weighing on your heart and mind, especially why you feel he isn't near.
Speaker A:With a kind heart, review what you wrote and identify anything that you wrote that does not agree with what God says is true.
Speaker A:And if you'd love support identifying God's truths, join our Facebook community Finding youg Purpose, Discernment and Strategy for Catholic Moms and ask for help.
Speaker A:This is something that I worked on myself and I still do today.
Speaker A:And don't forget to join me November 17th for the Discern your Purpose workshop at Bit Ly DiscernPurposeWorkshop.
Speaker A:And remember, my beautiful sister in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation.
Speaker A:Until then, may God bless you and bring you peace.
Speaker B:Thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker B:I pray that today's episode blesses and encourages you.
Speaker A:If so, would you please share it.
Speaker B:With someone you know that would be blessed by it?
Speaker A:If you felt inspired or learned something.
Speaker B:Today, please take 30 seconds to leave.
Speaker A:A written review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:This is the number one way to let me know that you are liking.
Speaker B:The show and for me to reach other Catholic women like yourself.
Speaker B:If you're feeling uncertain or lost on your discernment journey, you're not alone.
Speaker B:Join us over in the free Facebook community where Catholic women just like you are sharing, supporting and growing together in faith.
Speaker B:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:God bless you.
