10 Steps to Begin Again When You Feel Far from God

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Don’t keep waiting for the right time. There is no lightning in the sky or sign in the clouds that will bring you back. It simply takes a willing heart that is ready to say to yes to God. It you’ve been putting your relationship with God on hold and waiting for the timing to feel just right, the time is right now.

3. Pray

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

Use your motivation to go ahead and pray. There are no special words to say and no posture that is required. Open your heart and mouth and talk to God. He is waiting to hear from you. He welcomes you and loves you. James got it right when he said, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

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“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

When we feel like we aren’t hearing from God, sometimes it’s because we are not listening and tuning into the places where God speaks. God’s Word, the Bible, is the primary place God clearly speaks to His children. It holds the answers to life’s most perplexing questions and gives comfort and hope to the world.

5. Seek Godly Counsel

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

Once you’ve decided to step back into the journey, seek godly counsel from a trusted follower of Christ. If you have a wise family member, pastor, teacher, mentor, or friend, tell them what you are going through. Explain how you are desiring to begin working on a closer relationship with God again. Ask them what steps you can take and how they can help keep you accountable.

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“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

If you say you want to begin again, take the steps of faith forward. Find a good Bible believing church and commit to going faithfully. If you’ve just sat out for a while, get back to it. If you’ve not had a steady church home, do your homework and find one you can get into and grow in. Those first moments back inside might feel awkward or uncomfortable, but you are right where you need to be. Open your heart and hands and receive what God has for you.

7. Serve Others

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

Don’t just be a consumer at the church. Be a servant. Get involved in an area where you feel like you can make a difference. No matter how big or how small the ministry or job, do it with passion and commitment. You might simply help set up chairs, clean up trash or greet others as they enter. Do whatever you can do with heart and passion.

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“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night”
(Psalm 1:1-2).

Prepare yourself to be disciplined and to hear from God. You can be close to God and you can stay close to God, but it takes consistency. Just like any relationship takes work and intentionality, so does our relationship with God. Keep showing up. Day by day choose to pray, open God’s Word, and serve others. When you let God’s love shine down on you through His Word, His love shines out of you to others. The more you put into the relationship, the more you will see results.

9. Don’t Quit

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

If you slip up or make a mistake, if you just can’t get out of bed one week for church or don’t open your Bible or pray for a day or three, don’t let that keep you completely away. Show up today. Start fresh. Begin again. The only one who can make you quit is you. God will never quit. He will never stop loving you.

10. Take a Step

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

Take a step, even if it is a small step. Move in the direction you spiritually want to go. No more excuses. No more putting it off. No more waiting. You can take a small step today. It might mean you simply bow your head in prayer, open your Bible, reach out to a spiritually mature friend or leader, or just take a deep breath and acknowledge God as your Creator and King.

No matter how far you've drifted, God's love for you never changed. He’s still here, ready to walk with you again. Let today be your new beginning, one step and one day at a time. What is the step you are going to take?

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