Faithful long time believer concern doesn't feel or hear God
Q: Struggling & need advice. I can't hear God. I can't feel Him. I've never been able to, even though I got saved 30 years ago.
I read my Bible every day, I pray to Him and I worship, but I feel like I'm always talking to myself. Always.
I talked to my pastor this morning and he told me there may be a barrier of something in my past. I've been wracking my brain since then trying to think back on things. I've asked for forgiveness for anything I've done in the past that I never repented. I've asked the Lord to show me whatever this barrier could be.
Could you pray God reveals it, opens my eyes to what's bothering me about my relationship with Jesus, to move on confidently?
A: You're not alone in this struggle. Many faithful believers go through seasons—or even a lifetime—where they don’t feel God’s nearness. But our faith isn’t grounded in feelings; it’s grounded in truth. Scripture assures us: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18) and “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Christ’s presence is real whether or not we feel it.
Salvation [which is a miracle itself] is based on God’s sovereign grace, not our emotional experience. If you've trusted in Christ and rest in His finished work, you are His. Your assurance comes from the promises of Scripture, not your ability to sense Him.
Yes, it's good to ask the Lord to search your heart (Psalm 139:23–24), and if there is unrepented sin or a spiritual blockage, He is faithful to reveal it in His time. But remember: sometimes silence is part of His sanctifying work—drawing you to trust Him more deeply by faith, not by sight or emotion.
There are definitely things God has done in your life, answered prayer, and generally working in your life. He has also lead you to understand things you read in the Bible, and growth in that knowledge has molding you all those years to be more like Christ. He speaks to us through the Scriptures and guides us in life.
Because of His love for us, and saving us, we love him and are grateful, showing gratitude & thanks. Our joy and peace come from knowing He is, who He is, how he works things out, and that He keeps his promises, (we have an entire library [the Bible] from Him which shows us this). And because of the new nature we have new desires; to live holy in righteousness and to conquer sin in our lives. And the Indwelling Holy Spirit guides us, Christ is with us, and the Father loves us, cares for us, sovereignly works out all things. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Persevere, and be faithful to Him. 😊✝️✨️
And yes, I will pray for you—that the Lord would comfort you, open your eyes to anything that needs addressing, and fill you with the peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), even in the silence.
These can be a help too.
(*go to links at the bottom)
And if needed, chat about this with a biblical counselor 😊. They'll be the right folk to talk it over with and give guidance.
God bless
