When You Don’t Feel God
Mac Powell’s Encouragement for Believers
Feeling distant from God can be a challenging season for any of us. In a recent interview with Family Life Radio, singer, songwriter, producer, and musician, Mac Powell shared his personal journey through such times.
His words offer comfort and practical advice for those navigating similar experiences. Here, we delve into Mac’s reflections, using his own words to highlight solutions and encouragements that can help you in your faith journey.
It’s comforting to know that even someone as spiritually grounded as Mac Powell experiences moments of feeling far from God. Mac openly shared, “Oh, yeah. I mean, I think we all have those … And I pray daily, read the word daily. I go, ‘Lord, I’m away from you right now. I’m not in your presence the way I felt it before.’”
Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them.
Mac emphasizes that such feelings are part of the human experience and should not cause undue worry. “But at the same time, it doesn’t worry me because I know I’ve gone through those seasons as everyone does.”
He draws comfort from Scripture, explaining, “There’s plenty of Psalms where David or whomever, even Moses, is writing out their Psalm and going, ‘Lord, where are you?’”
By acknowledging that feeling distant from God is a common experience, you can find reassurance.
Trust in God’s Faithfulness
Despite the distance, Mac remains hopeful and confident in God’s faithfulness. He says, “I know there will be a time when I feel His presence, hopefully more than I ever had before.” Mac’s assurance comes from his deep faith and trust in God’s promises.
Mac reminds us of the psalmist’s words, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. I’ve done that. I’ve tasted and seen that He’s good.” His past experience of God’s goodness fuels his ongoing pursuit of God.
Instead of fearing these seasons of distance, Mac encourages us to embrace them as part of the faith journey. “It’s okay. It doesn’t scare me because I know, I’ll be in a better place. I’ll be in a place where I’m feeling the true, feeling and presence of God.”
He shares his personal reflection: “I’m going through, you know, this, just turned 50. So there’s lots of thoughts about looking back on the past, and I’m in that right now, and it’s okay.”
This perspective can help you understand that feeling distant from God is not permanent. It will pass, leading to a deeper connection with Him.
Finding Purpose in the Process
Mac finds purpose even in the challenging times. “It’s not that I like being in that season, it’s that I like proving through my walk. And through what He says in his word—that sometimes things are going to be hard.”
Such seasons are opportunities to deepen your faith and reliance on God.
Mac encourages you to trust that God has a plan, even when His presence feels distant. “Sometimes it’s not going to always be grand and perfect. But at the same time, you know, even as I’m being honest and speaking that out loud, there are so many times, like when I’m praying with the Lord the morning, I’m tearing up just feeling His presence.”
Moments of Grace and Connection
Even amidst the struggle, there are moments of profound connection with God. Mac shares a recent experience: ” I was in town for a conference, and I was looking around doing my morning walk, and I was seeing all these people that were in this parking lot who were there for this conference. And I just started tearing up, going, ‘Lord, look what you’ve done. All these people are pursuing you. They love Christian music. They love the Word’. … So, when I say I’m in a place where my walk is not where I necessarily want it to be, it doesn’t mean everything’s terrible.”
These moments serve as reminders of God’s presence and faithfulness, encouraging you to keep seeking Him.
Balancing Good and Bad
Life is a mix of highs and lows, and Mac acknowledges this balance. “There’s good times and bad times all mixed together.” He shares insights from his family life: “When you’ve got five kids, there’s always going to be something good and bad. There are things in our family right now that we are celebrating. We’re seeing answered prayer. And there’s also things where we’re going, ‘Lord, you’ve got to come through on this because we don’t know what to do in the situation.’”
You can embrace both the joys and challenges in your own life.
Mac says, “He’s faithful, and He’s proven Himself time and time again. And whether that takes a month or a week or ten years, I’m confident of that. So, I’m hanging in there.”
Let’s support each other in our faith journeys, knowing that God is always with us, even when His presence feels distant.
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