Drifting Away From God

There was a time in my life when I was a devoted Christian, fully immersed in my faith. I want to share my personal experience to illustrate just how easily one can drift away from God. It’s often a gradual process, a slow decline that you don’t even notice until you’ve reached a point of spiritual exhaustion. Life’s pressures, whether from work, family matters, or personal struggles, begin to chip away at your faith.

For me, it was a long series of events that led to this. I was baptized in December and was absolutely on fire for God. Jesus was at the center of my life—everything revolved around Him. I felt a deep connection with Peter, as his faith journey resonated with me. But over time, life’s challenges began to wear me down. I was dealing with a leaky roof that needed fixing, my dogs were getting sick, and my marriage was in a difficult spot. It felt like everything was piling up, little by little, and it took a toll on my spirit.

Despite these challenges, I clung to my faith. I prayed daily, listened to God’s Word on my commute, and played sermons throughout the day. But even then, I started feeling a subtle sense of distance from God. It wasn’t as though I stopped believing, but I was overwhelmed with the anxieties of life. One of the biggest concerns was my dogs. I know we’re supposed to give our worries to God, but it’s difficult when things you care about so deeply are at stake.

During this time, I noticed that while I had received many blessings—like getting a new roof on my house and help from my church—my spiritual focus was slipping. Instead of staying rooted in God’s Word, I was increasingly distracted by the world around me. Social media, news, and other worldly influences began to creep into my life. I found myself spending more time on social apps and less time in prayer. One night, after a particularly restless evening, I decided to delete an app that had kept me up most of the night. But even after that, I was still drawn to distractions.

I used to turn to YouTube for sermons and uplifting messages, but I found myself getting pulled into the political noise of the day. The same thing happened with Instagram, where I used to post about my spiritual journey. Instead, I was being drawn to content that wasn’t feeding my spirit. It was all subtle, but over time, it eroded my focus on God.

Things became even more complicated when I started noticing changes in my father. I suspected that he was experiencing the early stages of dementia, and this weighed heavily on me. My mind was constantly on my father’s health, and my prayers became fewer. At the same time, my own health started requiring more attention, and it was just one thing after another.

As I dealt with all these pressures—work problems, family issues, sick dogs—it felt like I was drifting further and further from God. I was still praying, still receiving blessings, but my heart wasn’t as connected. I began to doubt whether God was truly there for me. There were moments when I even questioned His existence. Deep down, I knew these doubts weren’t valid, but they lingered in the back of my mind.

The distance from God affected me in other ways too. My spiritual discipline weakened—I wasn’t taking care of myself like I used to. My diet suffered, my emotions were strained, and little by little, I found myself slipping further into a place where Satan could easily attack. I wasn’t losing my salvation, but I was certainly losing my focus, and it felt like I was fighting an uphill battle just to stay grounded in my faith.

Through all of this, I never completely lost sight of God. I knew He hadn’t abandoned me, but I also knew I had let my guard down. I started to realize just how important it is to stay vigilant, because the moment you let your guard down, Satan finds a way in. It’s a slow process, but it happens. And once you realize it, it can feel overwhelming trying to get back on track, almost like overcoming an addiction.

But here’s the thing: God never leaves. Even in our weakest moments, when we feel far from Him, He’s still there. He’s not going to abandon us just because we’ve stumbled. He wants us to get back on the right path, to be righteous, but He’s never going to turn His back on us. That’s not how God works. And even though I was going through all these personal struggles, I knew in my heart that He was still with me.

As Christians, we all fall short. We all go through times where our faith wavers, but that doesn’t mean God has given up on us. We are forgiven through Jesus Christ, and no matter how far we’ve drifted, we can always return to Him. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to serving God, to being His soldier. I want to minister to others, to preach the Gospel, and to be everything God has called me to be. I know He hasn’t given up on me, and He never will.

Satan will try to pull us away, but he can never have our souls if we belong to Jesus. The Holy Spirit within us convicts us when we go astray, and that’s what makes the Christian journey both beautiful and difficult. We are forgiven, but we must constantly strive to live a life that honors God. Even in our mistakes, we are loved, and we are His.

So, if you’re going through a time when you feel distant from God, know that He is still there. Step back, reassess, and return to Him. He made a promise to never leave us, and He cannot lie. We may make mistakes, but through Christ, we are forgiven, and we can always come back to Him.