As Close as Your Breath

In Psalm 34:18, we’re reminded that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” But in seasons of heartbreak, unanswered prayers, or overwhelming busyness, God can sometimes feel distant. Cindi McMenamin shares how we can quiet the noise, draw near to God, and experience His presence as close and real as the air we breathe.

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✨ Highlights

• Why God sometimes feels distant and how to reconnect with Him

• Four practical ways to experience God’s presence:

  1. Take a Divine Pause — slow down, breathe deeply, and be still (Psalm 46:10)

  2. Whisper His Name — use simple “breath prayers” like “Jesus, I need You” (Acts 4:12)

  3. Read His Word Aloud — Scripture is “living and active” and draws us closer (Hebrews 4:12)

  4. Start Praising Him — worship shifts our focus from ourselves to God’s goodness

• The promise of Jeremiah 29:13: when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him

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Full Transcript Below:

As Close as Your Breath  

By Cindi McMenamin, Crosswalk Contributing Writer

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted 

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NASB) 

Does it sometimes feel like God is far away? 

Heartbreak, struggles, hurts from the past, unanswered prayer, or just filling your schedule with everything but Him can make you believe God is distant. But Scripture abounds with evidence that He is as close to you as the air you breathe. 

Psalm 139 assures us that God knows every detail of our lives and in verses 7-12, we read there’s nowhere we can go outside of His presence and away from His watchful eye. Hebrews 13:5 also tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us. But maybe you know all that and you still long to know He’s there.  

When we feel like God is far away it’s often because we are the ones who have distanced ourselves. Perhaps other loves have stolen our heart away. That feeling that He’s distant can be an indicator that we need to put ourselves in the position where we can sense His presence, hear His voice, notice His work around us, and invite Him closer to our hearts. 

Intersecting Faith and Life: 

How can you be assured God is right next to you? 

Take a Divine Pause—Sometimes we can't sense God's presence because there's too much of everything else going on. Too much noise. Too much confusion. Too much anxiety. Too many apps or windows open. Too many voices and thoughts running through our minds. Center your mind on Him (Colossians 3:1-2) and start to breathe deeply. Try it. Exhale the distracting thoughts. Inhale a desire to sense His presence. Exhale your pre-occupation with self. Inhale a desire to know Him more completely. Exhale the worries of the moment. Inhale His peace. Now, don't you feel closer to His heart already? There's a reason His Word says "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10 ESV). 

Whisper His Name—There are times we need Him but we just don't know what to say or where to begin. Start by saying His name aloud and then speak your heart's cry. Scripture says there is power in the name of Jesus, not only because "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12), but because Jesus responds to His name when His loved ones call to Him. 

The writers of the classics called this type of whispering cry “breath prayers.” My breath prayers to sense His presence are "Jesus, I need You" or "Jesus, give me a heart for You." Calling His name just as often as we breathe is one of the simplest ways to sense His presence. And I believe the simplest of cries are the ones that penetrate His heart—and ours—the quickest. 

Read His Word Aloud—God speaks to us through His Word. And one of the best ways to sense His presence is to get into His Word and ask His Holy Spirit to guide you into a better under-standing of it. When you read God’s Word, and even speak it audibly, you will sense its power and His presence. The Bible says God's Word is "living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). That sharp sword will prick your heart through conviction, inspiration, enlightenment, or determination. A pricked heart is better than a numb, dull, or complacent heart any day, so get into His Word and find Him there. 

Start Praising Him—God inhabits the praises of His people. Ever wondered why you sometimes feel closer to God when you're in a church service, singing hymns or praise songs?  It’s possibly because that’s where worship tends to take place. But you don’t have to only be in a church building among other believers in order to worship Him. Worship is praise and acknowledgment of His worthiness wherever you are and in whatever situation you are in. Worship is surrender. Worship is giving Him your time, talents, and treasure. 

When you start praising Him, regardless of where you are, you'll sense His presence, probably because you're no longer focused on yourself, but on Him. When we open the door of our hearts to love Him, He will meet us there. Every time. 

Lord, Thank You for never hiding from me. Your Word says I will find You when I search for You with all my heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Make Your presence known as close and real as the air I breathe.  

Further Reading: Psalm 139:7-12; Colossians 3:1-2

For more on experiencing God’s presence, see my book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.

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