Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Lately I have been feeling that God is far from me. And it's a strange feeling, because I haven't felt it so strongly before. I feel He's so far. I know Him, but in the sense of knowing about somebody, not in a real sense. Why do I feel so far? And is this something I should be discussing with my father of confession?

God is never far from anyone. He is always there for us crying "Return to me says the Lord of hosts and I will return to you" (Zech 1:2). We need to always remember that "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). You have to get these thoughts out of your mind and have a renewal of mind. Thoughts are words sown into our hearts. They affect our life physically and spiritually. The devil spends so much effort into putting bad thoughts into our minds because he knows they open the door to our heart. Understanding this should help you set your will in line with God's and resist those ungodly thoughts. St. Paul says "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2). Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is our reasonable service, it is not easy but by the grace and the power of God everything is possible.

The key to have this renewal in mind and to have a personal relationship with the Lord is to communicate with Him through prayers. Pray even when you do not feel like it, for God always listens to prayers. Ask the Lord to get you out of this state and to reveal Himself to you that you might know Him personally.
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