Believing in God requires having faith in something we can’t see, touch, or otherwise experience with our senses. God is spiritual and intangible in the same way as love or morals.

Since you can’t see God’s presence, sometimes it’s hard to believe, and doubt creeps in. But if we pay attention, we may realize that God has been there all along and is present in our daily lives.

How Does Life Take Our Focus Away From God?

Modern life is chaotic, over-stimulating, and distracting. It’s too easy to get caught up with endless to-do lists, shows to watch, and responsibilities. There are also many influences that take us away from God and teach us to walk in the opposite direction from Him. If we always listen to the many voices of the world and fill our minds constantly, we will have trouble experiencing God in our everyday lives.

What Is God’s Presence?

Another challenge is that it’s difficult to know what to look for when you’re searching for God. You may not realize when He is there.

What does the Bible tell us about God’s presence?

In Exodus 33:14, God said,

“My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Also, in Exodus 33:20, He said,

“You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

In John 1:18 the Bible says,

“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

These quotes tell us that God’s presence is there but that we won’t be able to see Him.

How Can You Experience God in Your Daily Life?

If you can’t see God, how can you find Him in your life?

Consider the quote by Antoine de St. Exupery, “What is essential is invisible to the eye. Only with the heart can you see rightly.”

There are things that we cannot physically see, yet they may be some of the most important things in life. Love is the best example. We can’t physically see or touch it, yet there may be signs that it is there: a touch from a loved one, a note expressing feelings in words, a love song, or a kind gesture that conveys a sense of caring.

While people may do their best to convey the feeling of love, it is more than words, touches, gifts, or any tangible sensations or things. God is similar.

As humans, we won’t be able to see or hear or sense Him in the typical ways. Yet, there are still ways to sense His presence. It’s important to be open and not to close off to Him.

Here are tips to seek Him:

• Meditate to open your mind to God’s presence
• Spend time in nature
• Take breaks with nothing to do to create space for God to enter
• Pray
• Read the Bible
• Focus on ways He may be interacting with you beyond the typical senses
• Look for signs and patterns in your life that could indicate God’s presence