You pray, and nothing seems to happen. You open your Bible, and the words lie flat on the page. It can feel like talking to the ceiling, and it can leave you wondering what you did wrong.
You may not have done anything wrong. The quiet seasons are an old and well-documented part of the life of faith.
You're in good company
The Bible doesn't hide this experience. David put it in writing:
“How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”
Psalm 13:1 (KJV)
That line is in Scripture, which means it's a prayer you are allowed to pray. If the psalmist could say it out loud, so can you.
Quiet doesn't mean absent
When Elijah was worn out and hiding in a cave, he expected God to show up in something large. He was met another way:
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
1 Kings 19:12 (KJV)
It's possible to be listening for an earthquake when what's being offered is much quieter. And when feelings say otherwise, Scripture holds out a promise that doesn't depend on them:
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
Five gentle things to try
Tell God exactly how it feels. You don't need to dress it up. "I can't feel You right now" is an honest prayer.
Make your practice smaller. A quiet season is a poor time for an ambitious plan. Try one verse and one sentence of prayer, and let that be enough.
Borrow someone else's words. When your own run out, read a psalm aloud or pray the Lord's Prayer. Paul says we aren't alone in this:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26 (KJV)
Stay close to other believers. Tell a trusted friend or your pastor. Let someone else carry the faith for a while, and sit beside them while they do.
Do the next small kind thing. Faith isn't only a feeling. Calling a friend or helping a neighbor can be a way of staying near God when prayer feels dry.
A prayer for the quiet
Lord, I can't feel You today. I'm here anyway. Be near me, even when I can't tell that You are. Amen.
If the quiet comes with a heaviness you can't shake, or you've begun to feel hopeless, please reach out to a pastor, a counselor or your doctor. You don't have to carry it alone.
Short practices can help in a dry season. Here's a simple way to keep a daily devotional, and some verses for when you're tired.
Common questions
Why does God feel so far away sometimes?
There isn't one answer, and Scripture doesn't offer a formula. Many faithful people in the Bible felt the same way, and the Psalms give words for that experience. Feeling distant from God doesn't mean He has left you.
What should I do when I don't feel God's presence?
Keep your practice small and honest. Tell God how it feels, read a short passage, and lean on other believers. Feelings often shift in time, and you don't have to force them.
Is it okay to tell God I feel abandoned?
Yes. Psalm 13 opens with that very question. Bringing your honest feelings to God is itself a form of prayer.