I came across something in the Word that I thought was super awesome but first a preface.
Everyone feels distant from God at some point. I honestly don't believe there is a single Christian out there who can honestly say "I have never felt distant from God". For some reason though, we feel ashamed in those moments. We often won't even tell those who wish to encourage us that we are struggling. It is almost as if we feel like no one should ever struggle in their relationship with God and if we are struggling struggling with our relationship then it is our fault and we are doing something awful. Truth is that maybe there is a problem within us but maybe it is just the Devil trying to make us feel distant. So there is no need to feel ashamed, but there is a need to be comforted and encouraged. That is exactly what this Bible verse did for me and for Brianna who I once encouraged with it.
The verse is found in a couple of the Gospels. It is "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus wasn't being mean towards God or resentful. He wasn't really confused as to why God was turning His face from Him but I think Jesus said that so we could know what he was struggling with. We often think that Jesus can relate to us. Rightly so. We know Jesus was tempted. We know Jesus cried because he was sad. We know Jesus had friends who betrayed him and struggles. But we fail to think Jesus can relate to us when we feel distant from God because Jesus is God. But that is wrong thinking. Jesus can even relate to that. For three days Jesus was separated from God, the one whom he had relied on his whole life. Jesus can relate to us when we feel distant from God.
There is something else though. Often when we feel distant from God that is when we feel like everything is going wrong. A family member passes away. Big decisions need to be made like jobs, marriage, or college. Our girlfriend/boyfriend breaks up with us. We get in a fight with our friend. Something. Anything. It just seems that when we feel distant from God the weight gets piled on with trials and tribulations. Maybe we are in the midst of a struggle with sin and we see no end. At this point we know that Jesus could help us with our temptations or our trials but we feel to distant from God to go to him. How could Jesus relate to me now in the midst of all of this? Have you noticed the context in which Jesus cries out because God has forsaken him? A friend who has followed him for years just betrayed him. He was sent through a completely unfair trial. People yelled at him and he could have no voice because he knew what he had to do. We was hit and mocked by the people. He was sent by Pilate to be flogged. This is an awful thing, if you want to get a taste of the flogging, watch Passion of the Christ. It is horrible, painful, and scary. He then bore his own cross to a hill (although part way through another man helped him). His hands were nailed, his feet were nailed, and he began to suffocate. People and soldiers hurled insults at him still and he had to watch his mother cry at his feet. Jesus was going through a hard time when he was distant from Jesus. Jesus can even relate to us when we are distant from God AND everything seems to be going wrong.
Do not think God is too far. Do not think Jesus won't relate. Do not think you should be embarrassed to have a struggling relationship with God every once in a while. Be honest. Be encouraged. Pray to the God who hears you through Jesus who can relate to all you in all things. Know that this is temporary and take hope. Find good friends that can pray with you and who can understand you and love you. Know the story of Jesus's death and his time he spent distant from God. There is hope for you.
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