Fog is a fascinating phenomenon.
Where I grew up—an area known for its high bluffs and steep valleys—fog can drastically alter perspective. You wake up to a bright, sunny morning atop the ridge and find yourself on an island surrounded by an ocean of billowy white stretching miles in all direction, broken apart only by the tops of neighboring bluffs.
Brilliant. Breathtaking.
Then you descend into the valley and the whole aura changes. Cars drive with headlights on as if it were still night. Dreary gray blots out buildings, fields, even whole forests. They’re still there, of course, but in a world enveloped by fog, it’s easy to feel like you’re traveling alone through a dark tunnel.
This is how it feels when God seems distant.
(Psst! Follow the post to the end to get a free 9-day Bible study based on this collection of scripture passages!)
Hey, I’m Lauren, author of YA Christian fiction and
blogger for teens ready to level up in faith.
Subscribe for inspiring content and free YA ebooks!
In This Article
Living in A World Shrouded in Fog
How would you describe God based on your experience? Loving, mighty, and good? Or are you more inclined toward adjectives like cold, distant, and silent?
“It feels like God is watching from his throne far away.”
“I’m sure God cared about those guys in the Bible but I’m not sure he cares about me.”
“God doesn’t have time for me.”
“Me and God aren’t very close.”
Sometimes Christians—even staunch Christians—have trouble connecting to Christ. The Bible says Jesus will make you new, and yet you feel … the same. The thrill of victory shouldn’t feel so dull, right? And why does it seem like your non-believing friends thrive while you’re stuck in a cloud of discontent?
The world is a distracting place. School, jobs, friends, family. Grave reports of mass shootings, political corruption, a tyrant’s attempt to swallow another country …
Sometimes the trouble isn’t any further than your own living room: family strife, illness, death.
All this stuff is fog. Fog alters your perspective and changes the whole aura of your life. It’s not difficult for a mighty oak to disappear from in the fog. But the presence of fog doesn’t change the fact that the mighty oak is still there.
You do, however, have to look for it to see it.
Seek the Lord in the Fog
The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you.
2 Chronicles 15:2
Is your life foggy right now? Do you feel like you’re traveling alone in a dark tunnel? God is still there, and what’s more, he will be found if you seek him. Like the mighty oak shrouded from view, God is present and close—so close you could reach out your hand and touch him. What’s more, he wants you to seek him, as Isaiah says in no unclear terms:
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”
Isaiah 55:6
Fog doesn’t stop God from being loving, mighty, and good, but sometimes you have to seek him in order to see him. And how do you seek the Lord? Through scripture.
Bible Verses For When God Seems Distant
The whole Bible is the story of God’s love for his people but when God seems distant, these Bible passages will set you on the right course. Because distant and aloof are adjectives that, when used to describe the one true God, couldn’t be further from the truth.
Psalms to Help You Seek the Lord
Psalm 139
“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”
Psalm 139:5
No one can put a hand on you from a distance. Psalm 139 conveys, in no uncertain terms, how much you are known by God and how close he remains to you. He created you—knitted you, actually (knitting is a very hands-on activity). He knows your thoughts before you know them and he follows your comings and goings every minute of every day.
God is not only close, but he’s also very active in your life.
Psalm 91
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.”
Psalm 91:14-15
Psalm 91 takes the idea of a close, active God further with the image of him covering you with his feathers (v. 4) and commanding his angels concerning you (v. 11). If you’re having trouble applying this promise of protection to yourself personally, try this eye-opening exercise: Take v. 14-15 (quoted above) and replace every “he” or “him” with your name. It’s not wrong to do that because these promises aren’t just for the psalmist but for all believers. When God seems far away, this is where you uncover the truth.
Psalm 5:12
“Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Psalm 25:14
“The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”
To confide in someone is to tell him or her a secret or private matter. Who do you confide in? Probably your best friend, your brother, your boyfriend, your favorite teacher, or your mother. You don’t confide in the mail carrier or the secretary at your senator’s office (unless he or she is one of those previously listed). Confidence is a personal matter.
Can you imagine God leaning in to whisper a secret in your ear? That’s exactly what this verse says. God confides in believers through his Word. He makes his thoughts known to us—to you.
That’s pretty personal.
Psalm 145:18
“The Lord is near to all who call on him . . .”
God is nearer than you think. You would shudder if you realized just how close he stood to you right now. But no worries, as it says in Psalm 73:28, “As for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge.”
More Bible Verses For When God Seems Far Away
Notice how all these Bible passages are about where to look when God seems distant? That’s because it’s only your perception. God never moves from your side.
Isaiah 41:9-10
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you . . . I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 was first spoken by Moses and to Joshua. Two verses before, he said pretty much the same thing to the whole Israelite nation. But I’m neither Joshua nor an Israelite, you say. That’s okay, because this verse is quoted and applied to all believers in Hebrews 13:5.
That means you, too.
Ephesians 2:13
“You who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
1 John 4:13,15
“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.”
James 4:8
Make God your refuge every day. Dive into his Word, study his promises, seek him in earnest prayer, and see how close he gets. Because just as he promised,
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take hold of his hand and let him guide you to the top of the mountain where the view is brilliant and breathtaking. Seek the Lord and you will find him.
Want more? Free Bible Reading Plan Based on This Post
Subscribe to my email list for a Bible reading plan that considers nine of these verses in context—right to your inbox.
More Resources for Teens Seeking Jesus
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
- Seeking Jesus: How to Get Closer to God Right Now
- Desiring God As the Ultimate Source of Pleasure
- 6 Must-Read Nonfiction Books for Christian Teens
- The Holy Teenage Life: Real Faith, Real Happiness
- Teens for Christ: What Does it Mean to Fear God?
So many beautiful reminders of His presence as he guides us through this life. Oh what comfort we find in Him and His word. Thank you, Lauren.
Comments are closed.