Feeling God’s presence in your life is a wonderful thing, but there may be times when you wonder where He’s gone. One of those times can be during suffering or tribulation, where you may feel like God isn’t close to you or isn’t hearing you as clearly as you would like.

You can rest assured that God hasn’t walked away from you or left you to suffer. You’re not being punished for something, and God’s presence is still all around you. Sometimes it can be harder to feel that presence, but there are ways to look at the situation differently, so you can feel the presence of God in your life more directly, even when you’re experiencing hard times.

Human Suffering is Inevitable

While it would be wonderful in many ways to never experience pain or suffering, it would also stop us from fully appreciating the value of better times. It might also cause us to take God and everything He has offered us for granted since there wouldn’t be any reason to reach out to Him for help or comfort.

Pain and suffering are simply parts of being human and of experiencing life on Earth. As we move through our lives, there are good times and bad, and both kinds of experiences provide opportunities for becoming closer to God, learning from Him, and leaning from His promises.

God is Always With You

The good news is that God is always with you, no matter what you’re going through at the time. If you want to feel closer to Him during a difficult time, there are a few things you can do. You can:

• Pray: One of the best ways to feel closer to God is to pray and talk to Him. He wants all of His children to reach out to Him for comfort in times of struggle. If you’re dealing with pain and suffering, turning to God and looking for Him in the small, quiet moments can help.
• Gather: When you gather with other believers, that’s another way to feel close to God. During hard times, reaching out to your faith community, your pastor, your friends and family, and trusted professionals can all provide benefits you can use to feel closer to God.
• Walk in Nature: Being surrounded by the stillness, peace, and beauty of God’s creation is one of the ways to feel closer to Him, especially when times are difficult. Even if you live in a city, there are usually parks and other green spaces to experience. God’s presence can be felt in the flowers, trees, and natural wonders of these places.
• Journal: Journaling helps bring you closer to God because it’s like a written prayer. You can get your feelings and fears down onto paper, along with your thoughts and goals. Talking with God through keeping a journal give you the opportunity to draw closer to Him, and when you’re struggling, that comfort can be very valuable.

Some people also choose things like meditation or music to draw themselves closer to God’s presence when times are difficult. There are many ways you can feel comforted and closer to Him, with the reassurance that you’re not alone and He will never leave you.

Suffering Can Bring You Closer to God

No one enjoys suffering, but there are lessons to be found in it. Sometimes a person who hasn’t been close to God will find Him in the suffering, bringing themselves closer to Him in their time of need and for the future, as well.

If you’re suffering or in pain, or if you’re struggling with something that’s weighing heavily on your heart or your mind, reaching out to God is the best way to have comfort and support during that time. When the suffering leaves and better times are in your life, staying close to God ensures you’ll have a strong relationship with Him the next time something painful comes your way.

You Have a Wonderful Inheritance

Your inheritance in Heaven is more important than anything that’s happening on Earth. While suffering isn’t easy and can be stressful and uncomfortable, looking ahead can help you have more peace.

When you feel God’s presence and comfort, and you know His promises for the future, your inheritance will become more important than any difficulties you may experience during your time here. It’s the relationship with God for eternity that matters most.