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Don’t Feel God in Prayer?


By Vladimir Savchuk | May 25, 2023 | 5 mins

Don’t Feel God in Prayer?

As a Christian, having a life of prayer is crucial. Many people struggle to pray, not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know what to say, don’t know how to say it, or simply don’t experience God while they do it.

If that is your case, I pray these truths will encourage you to keep persevering in prayer.

1. Prayer is as much about God as it is about you

God loves you so much. That is why He desires a relationship in the first place. Think about an earthly relationship. When you’re in love, you want to be close to that individual because their closeness and presence make all the difference to you.

God loves us more than any human could love another in this lifetime. It’s that love that beckons us to draw close. He desires to be with you. Think about that for a minute. The God of the universe desires to spend time with you.

Prayer is more about Him than about us. When we understand that, something in our prayer time shifts.

2. Prayer is Just as much about discipline as it is about delight

Some believe that if they somehow go to prayer because they have to instead of because they get to, then God will be disappointed. I don’t believe that to be the case. Because of our human nature, sometimes prayer must be a discipline.

If for a season of your life, prayer is simply a discipline you follow instead of a delight, don’t feel guilty or believe that you love God less.

God sees you. He knows when there are external factors affecting your emotions. Whether it’s your health, your mind, or a life situation, just because you are simply showing up does not mean you love God less. Don’t see yourself through that deceitful lens. In fact, if you’re able to do this for the right reasons, it shows more about your discipleship and growth as a believer.

Now, if all you do is pray out of discipline and this is not simply a “season” for you, then I would recommend fasting along with your prayer. Ask God for a revelation of His love, your relationship with Him, or address things that may be burdening your heart.

3. God rewards your prayer

Another truth to remember is that God doesn’t just reward your breakthrough in prayer, but He rewards your prayer (Matthew 6:6).

God sees you in prayer, even when you don’t feel Him there. Take comfort in this verse because God says He sees you when you’re in secret. When you don’t feel God, you are seen by God (Genesis 16:13).

Oftentimes we go into prayer and we’re so focused on experiencing God that we forget that God sees us showing up and promises to reward that act. Now, we don’t pray for a reward, but He does promise us as His children a reward for praying just because He loves us.

This reminds me of the story of Bartimaeus the blind man (Mark 10:47). He couldn’t see Jesus, but Jesus saw Him. Prayer is like that sometimes. We’re blind to the fact that God is with us, and that God is pleased with us simply because we don’t “feel” it. What I love about this story is that although he couldn’t see Jesus initially, He heard about Him.

Don’t get discouraged by what you’re feeling, instead talk to your soul about the faithfulness of God. David spoke to his soul when it was discouraged (Psalm 42:11). Why? Because you are not your soul, you are a spirit. God sees you and He is with you. If you don’t see him, then hear Him. The day will come, that like Bartimaeus, that your eyes will be opened and you will begin to experience the presence of God in prayer like never before.

4. God Rewards those who seek him

Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that God rewards those who diligently seek after Him. Keep seeking after God because He blesses the act of pursuing after Him. The Bible states that God saw in David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).

God desires you to pursue, seek, and hunger after Him. Those things are not always easy, they require sacrifice, but He states in Hebrews that it’s for this very act that He will reward us.

Read: Life Changing Effects of Morning Prayer

Final Thoughts

There are times in our Christian walk where we all must go through silent seasons. It may seem like He’s not there, but He promised to be (Deuteronomy 31:6). Cling to His promises in Scripture.

Whatever the reason for the season of your silence, be encouraged that He sees you, hears you, and soon you will be rejoicing in the reward of His presence.


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