Friday Fight 218: The Porch Light - Returning to God's Presence

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF218.

As believers, we all go through spiritual highs and lows. Feeling distant from God is normal and doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Many silently struggle, believing they’re the only one—but you’re not alone. What matters most is staying honest with God and remembering that He never changes, we do, He remains faithful always.

The Porch Light: Returning to God’s Presence

So how do we renew intimacy with our Creator when we find ourselves spiritually stuck? Below are common barriers that can distance us from God, along with the ways the Holy Spirit draws us back into a renewed connection.

1. Unconfessed Sin

Sin creates a barrier between us and God. Confession and repentance brings healing. The Holy Spirit gently reveals what needs to be made right and walks with us as we seek forgiveness.

2. Inability to Surrender

Trying to control everything blocks God’s peace. True surrender means trusting that His plan is better. The Holy Spirit nudges us to release our grip and rest in God’s guidance.

3. Distraction

Being too busy for prayer or reflection keeps us spiritually distant. The Holy Spirit stirs a desire within us for stillness and helps us prioritize time with God amid life’s chaos.

4. Ongoing Brokenness

Unhealed pain or trauma can trap us in the past. The Holy Spirit brings comfort and wants us to invite Him into our wounds, leading us toward healing and freedom.

5. A Skewed View of God

Suffering can distort our view of God’s character. Difficult times can lead us to question His faithfulness. The Holy Spirit reveals truth through Scripture, reminding us that God is always loving, gracious, and near us in our pain.

6. Lack of Spiritual Discipline

Like a child without correction, we drift when we are not intentional with our habits. The Holy Spirit motivates us to build rhythms of prayer, Scripture, and obedience—habits that draw us closer to Him.

7. Pride

Pride quietly shifts focus from God onto us. When we take credit for what God has done, we rob Him of the glory. The Holy Spirit reveals areas of self-reliance and calls us back to a humble spirit.

8. Spiritual Warfare

We have a real enemy who seeks to distract and deceive. The Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm in truth and resist the lies that attempt to separate us from God.

When we were younger, my parents would always leave the porch light on until we were all home. We would wander all over the place but try to make our way back before sunset. At times, I felt miles away from home, but I knew if we started towards our street, even on the darkest of nights, we would begin to see our porch light, giving us direction. It brought comfort watching it get brighter as we got closer.

Even when you don’t feel close to God, continue to pray, read, and seek Him. The closer you get, the brighter His light becomes. Choose two or three areas from this list and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in addressing them. He is your helper and companion on the path back to intimacy. James 4:8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” We take one step in His direction, and God comes toward us. He did not wander off, become distracted, or pull away; we have. He is waiting and ready to meet us with love and grace. The heart of intimacy with God is not about perfection. It’s about direction.

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In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

River Church