Have you ever found yourself wondering where God went?
As a Christian counselor, I regularly meet with clients who love Jesus deeply—but feel distant from Him. They’re often overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, overthinking, or spiritual numbness. And while we can address emotional and mental symptoms from many angles, one foundational truth remains:
👉 When we lose our sense of connection to the presence of God, we lose peace and well-being.
But the good news? You can experience restoration. You can feel close to God again.
In this post, I’m sharing a practical, biblical exercise I use with Christian clients, students at church, friends, and family. This tool—drawn from practices like Freedom Prayer, the Immanuel Approach, and inner healing ministry—helps you get honest before God and restore intimacy with Him.
Why Does Spiritual Distance Impact Mental Health?
We were created to live in ongoing relationship with God. When that relationship feels disrupted, the soul starts to ache.
Here are just a few symptoms that often show up when we're disconnected from God:
- Increased anxiety or racing thoughts
- Spiritual numbness or avoidance
- Difficulty hearing God's voice
- Lack of peace, clarity, or joy
- Overreliance on numbing behaviors (scrolling, isolating, food, etc.)
But Scripture reminds us what’s available in God’s presence:
"In Your presence there is fullness of joy…" – Psalm 16:11 "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." – Exodus 33:14 "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." – 2 Corinthians 3:17
So how do we get back there?
A Guided Prayer Exercise to Reconnect with Jesus
This exercise is simple but deeply transformative. It creates space to engage with the Holy Spirit, see what’s blocking your closeness, and invite Jesus to speak truth into those places.
✨ Find a quiet moment. Close your eyes if you're able, and invite the Lord to meet you.
Step-by-step reflection:
- Picture meeting with Jesus. What do you see or sense?
- Notice His posture toward you. Is He close? Distant? Gentle? Silent?
- Notice your posture toward Him. Are you drawing near—or hesitating?
- Ask Him:
- “What’s keeping me from being as close as I want to be?”
- “What do You want me to know about this?”
Sometimes people don’t see a visual image of Jesus—and that’s okay. You may simply sense His presence, peace, or voice.
3 Common Barriers to God's Presence (and Biblical Solutions)
Through this process, many believers discover that something is blocking them from deeper intimacy.
The most common roadblocks I see are:
1. Unforgiveness
Jesus calls us to forgive as we’ve been forgiven (Matthew 6:14). When we withhold forgiveness, bitterness builds walls between our heart and His.
2. Ungodly Beliefs
If your image of God doesn’t reflect His character, as described in His Word, it may be a skewed view of God, which comes from past wounds. For example:
- “He’s present, but He’s emotionally cold.”
- “He’s standing far off, disinterested.”
Ask: Does this reflect Matthew 11:28-30? If not, it’s not the real Jesus.
3. Unconfessed Sin
God doesn’t condemn us—but He does invite repentance. Sin creates distance. Confession and surrender restore closeness and peace.
A Foundation for Deeper Work
This prayer exercise is often just the beginning of my work with clients who choose to incorporate it.
From this starting point, we can go deeper to uncover:
- Roots of pain or trauma
- Generational patterns
- Fear, shame, or false identities
- Strongholds like anger, sexual sin, or spiritual apathy
And the best part? People find clarity and freedom from what's weighing them down or holding them back.
Final Thoughts: He’s Nearer Than You Think
If you’re reading this and feeling stuck, disconnected, or spiritually flat—I want to encourage you:
God is not far away. He’s ready to meet you—right here, right now. (James 4:8)
This tool is a doorway to reconnect with the God who sees you, loves you, and longs to walk with you again.
🧠 Want More Support?
If you’d like help walking through this or going deeper, I offer Christ-centered counseling and coaching that integrates biblical truth, inner healing, and practical tools for spiritual and emotional restoration.
📩 Reach out or listen to the episode below.