IS GOD LISTENING?

Q. I feel far from God right now. I pray and hear nothing. How do I know he's listening? Or even there? I'm afraid I'm missing his answers or that he's not hearing me.

A. You're not alone. Almost every Christian feels this way sometimes. Read Psalm 22:1-2. King David, who certainly knew God, wrote: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? … I cry out by day, but you do not answer" (NIV). We often feel God is distant or disconnected. Even Jesus felt this way—and quoted this Psalm—when he was on the cross.

But despite how you feel, God hasn't gone anywhere. He created you, and he loves you so much that he made arrangements for you to live with him forever (Romans 8:32). Since God is so deeply committed to you, he's not going to walk away from you.

In fact, he's watching over you. Right here. Right now. You may not see him or hear him, but you're on his mind, and he loves you. Keep your eyes open, and watch for God's presence in your life. You may not see him all the time, but like the wind, you can see the effect he has. Maybe you see him in how he provides. Or comforts. Or the people he sends into your life.

God wants you to keep looking for him by praying, reading his Word and living out your faith. "Come and pray to me, and I will listen to you," God says. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12-13, NIV).

Marshall, a former pastor, is now editor of Leadership Journal, a magazine for pastors.