Why Your Relationship with God Feels Distant (And How to Fix It)

You know that feeling when something's off in a relationship? Maybe you said something harsh to your spouse. Maybe you've been distant with a friend. There's this weight, this distance, and you both know it. The relationship hasn't ended, but the intimacy is broken.

That's exactly what happens between you and God when sin enters the picture.

Here's what we often miss: salvation secures your position in Christ forever. But sin disrupts your fellowship with God. It creates distance in the relationship. And just like any relationship worth having, your connection with God requires attention, honesty, and care.

We live in a culture that has made peace with sin. We rationalize it, laugh it off, even celebrate it. But here's what Scripture makes clear in 1 John 1:5—God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. None. Not even a shadow.

This isn't about losing your salvation when you mess up. It's about maintaining the intimacy you were designed to experience with your Creator. Sin doesn't just affect your behavior; it landscapes your soul. What was once beautiful becomes ugly. What was promising becomes wasted. Sin doesn't entertain—it suffocates.

Think about it: you can't walk in two directions simultaneously. You're either moving toward the light or you're stumbling in darkness. And here's the piercing question—does your walk match your words? Do you claim to know God while living like you don't?

1 John 1:9 offers one of the most liberating promises in all of Scripture: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

But confession isn't just admitting you messed up. The word literally means to "say the same thing." You're coming into agreement with God about your sin. You're calling it what He calls it—rebellion, not a mistake. Selfishness, not self-care. Pride, not confidence.

This kind of confession requires specificity. Not vague prayers like "forgive me for anything I've done wrong." Name it. Identify it. Own it. That's where freedom begins.

When you open your hand in confession, God responds with His character. He is faithful—He keeps His promises. He is just—the debt has already been paid through Christ's blood. And He cleanses you, not just forgives you. The sin isn't just pardoned; it's erased.

Every sin. Past, present, and future. Not because sin doesn't matter, but because Jesus' sacrifice was that complete.

God doesn't want you carrying the weight of guilt. He doesn't want you living at a distance from Him. His desire is intimacy, fellowship, connection. But that requires you to stop justifying, stop comparing yourself to others who seem worse, and stop hiding.

Walking in the light isn't about perfection—it's about honesty. It's about staying current with God, keeping short accounts, refusing to let sin build up like unpaid bills.

This is how you nurture your relationship with God: through His Word, through prayer, through regular confession. You examine your words and your walk. You ask the hard questions. You invite conviction.

And when you stumble—because you will—you don't run from God. You run to Him. Because where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.

Right now, ask yourself: Is there distance between you and God? Is there something you've been hiding, justifying, or ignoring? Don't let it sit there. Don't let sin choke the life out of your fellowship with the Father.

Confess it. Agree with God about it. Turn from it. And receive the cleansing He's already purchased for you.

God is light. He is love. He is your life. And He's waiting with open arms to restore what sin has disrupted.

This week’s blog draws from the message shared by Interim Pastor Steve Dighton on Sunday, September 28. You can watch the full message here.