Feeling God’s Presence: How to Connect With Him
The maples stood barren—as if they were waiting for a fresh breath from heaven. Gazing into their spindly arms, I realized my soul felt much the same. I wanted nothing more than to start feeling God’s presence again.
“God, why do you seem so distant? Why don’t I sense your presence?” I prayed.
Feeling God’s Presence
As I sat in the silence, my mind returned to a crystal clear Tuesday evening years ago.
In a single instant, I learned more about God and love than I’d gleaned in a whole lifetime.
After nine long months of suffering through a debilitating diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum (mostly couch-ridden and sipping sports drinks to stay hydrated), Bekah was born after 14 hours of labor that resulted in an emergency C-section.
Nothing about the day went as expected. I didn’t expect my water to break five days before my due date. I didn’t expect my body not to go into labor on its own, warranting an induction. The emergency surgery wasn’t on my radar.
And when they brought her to me, wrapped her in her striped hospital blanket, I didn’t expect the visceral flow of love to pour from me as it did. I didn’t know I was capable of that kind of love or that such love even existed. 
When You’re Having Trouble Feeling God’s Presence
I cried often throughout our first few weeks together. The tears flowed because I couldn’t believe the love God placed in my heart for her. My desires to protect, nurture, and care for her were stronger than anything I’d experienced.
During those early weeks of Bekah’s life, the power of the cross captivated me in a new way. There was absolutely no way I’d send my daughter to die in anyone’s place. Ever.
God’s willingness to send his Child to die for me completely transformed my perception of his love.
Throughout my life, I’ve battled with the feeling of not being good enough. I’ve faced lies that tell me rejection from other people means I’m less than. I know all about the ongoing feeling that I don’t measure up.
Most of us face these thoughts at some time in our lives.
For nearly a decade, I listened to Christian leaders who talked about finding our identities in Christ. They said, “You are a beloved child of the Most High God. You are precious and dearly loved.”
The women around me cried and rejoiced at their newfound identities. Meanwhile, the words kept getting lost between my mind and my heart.
A Fresh Encounter With God:
Things changed when I held my own child.
I experienced love I’d never known.
I realized God loves Jesus far more perfectly than I can love my child, and yet he sent him to suffer and die so I wouldn’t have to receive his punishment for my sins.
The heart of my identity is this: God loves me so much that he sent Jesus to die for me (Romans 5:8).
Dear friend, if you feel frustrated because you’ve been having trouble feeling God’s presence, I understand. I want to feel his loving, presence, too. We were designed to walk closely with him, and we all crave his presence.
However, we also face times when we will not feel his presence.
When these times come, we don’t need to take offense or become frustrated. Instead, we can remember this: God is always present with us. He promised this in Scripture, and he keeps his promises (Hebrews 13:5; Deut. 31:6). Furthermore, his love was demonstrated at the cross, once and for all.
When you need a fresh encounter with God’s presence, remember the cross.
Friend, are you longing for a fresh encounter with God?
You might feel tempted to pursue an emotional experience. We can encounter God through experience, but God also wants us to learn to encounter him simply by standing on an unchanging truth. God demonstrated his love once and for all when Jesus died on the cross for us.
When I long for an encounter with God's love, I simply need to step back and consider the cross. #encounteringGodintheordinary #encounteringGodslove Click To TweetGod loves us so deeply that he sent his Son to a place of agony for us. Encountering this truth is the quintessential encounter with the presence of God.
When you need a fresh encounter with God, remember how much you are loved.
I don’t love anyone enough to send my child to suffer and die on a cross for them. How deep his love truly is that God would make this sacrifice for me, for you, and for the world.
Understanding the depth of his love transformed my identity. When I begin to feel less-than, left out, or not enough, I think of how much I love my children. Then I ponder God’s love for me, to send his Child to die in my place. I know this is real love.
I know I don’t need to please others, measure up, or be someone others admire because I am loved deeply by my Father.
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Do you long for a fresh encounter with God? Would you like the experience of feeling God’s presence?
You don’t need a goosebumps experience to encounter him.
Simply remember the cross.
God loves you so much that he allowed his Son to be punished for your sins. He offers you the gift of eternal life with him. This is love.
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Calling all mothers and daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find your free Kindle Unlimited eBook or buy it in print for just 11.99 right here.
