When You Feel Forgotten by God: A Faith-Based Guide to Trusting His Plan

How to Navigate the Seasons that God Feels Silent

Have you ever whispered, “God, did You forget about me?” I have.

Sometimes it’s not said out loud – it’s felt in the silence, in the long waiting, in the prayers that seem unanswered. We know the truth: God is good. God is faithful. God has a plan. But when life feels like it’s standing still, it’s hard to reconcile that truth with our reality.

The Bible is filled with people who wrestled with the same feeling. Joseph was forgotten in prison after doing the right thing. Hannah cried out for a child year after year. David, the man after God’s own heart, wrote, “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Forever?” (Psalm 13:1, KJV)

If you feel forgotten by God, you are not alone. And you are no less faithful for feeling this way. Even when we can’t feel Him, God is nearby.

“Can a woman forget her suckling child…? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hand…” (Isaiah 49:15-16, KJV)

Joseph’s story offers a profound reminder. He was betrayed by his family, sold into slavery, and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Even when he showed kindness to Pharaoh’s Cupbearer in prison and asked to be remembered, the Bible says simply, “Yet did not the Chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” (Genesis 40:23, KJV).

Joseph’s prison became a place of hidden preparation, a place where humility, patience, and dependence on God were refined. The silence wasn’t an act of abandonment. It was the forge of transformation. And it’s the same for us. God‘s silence does not equal His absence. It may be the very space where our deepest growth occurs, in the stretching, the questions and the waiting.

Considering the natural world, the seed planted in the ground experiences a period of silent growth beneath the surface before it breaks through the soil. The darkness and quietness are essential for the eventual flourishing. Similarly, God might be cultivating something deep within us during His silence: patience, resilience, and a deeper understanding of His sovereignty. He might be preparing the ground for the very breakthrough we are seeking, in a way that will be more meaningful and impactful than we can currently imagine. So, this darkness is not the end of the story, it’s the beginning of something God is cultivating within you.

Silence can also be God’s invitation to come closer. We often expect big, dramatic answers, but God often speaks in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). It’s in the quiet that we learn to tune our hearts to His whispers, a scripture that stands out, a nudge in prayer, or a peace that surpasses all understanding. 

How Do We Navigate These Seasons When God Feels Silent?

Here are 5 practical anchors for your soul:

1. Daily Surrender

Each morning, surrender to God, all your expectations and the need for clarity. Let go of the pressure to understand everything; His ways are not our ways. Instead, trust that God is still writing your story. Surrendering daily means you are saying. “God, even when I don’t see, I choose to trust You today.” Like Joseph, we may not know what’s next, but we can honour God in our waiting season with our faithfulness in the present.

2. Anchor Yourself in the Scripture

When God’s voice feels far away, go back to what He’s already said. His word is our anchor in the storm. Verses like Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11 remind us that His plans are still good, even when we don’t see how they’ll unfold. Cling to the truth of who He is.

3. Worship Through the Waiting

Worship is powerful because it redirects our focus. It lifts our eyes from the unanswered prayers to the One who holds the answers. Even in silence, worship is a declaration that God is still worthy. It says, “You’re still good, even here.”

4. Reflect and Record

Keep a journal of what God has done in the past, answered prayers, divine moments and unexpected blessings. Reflect on the testimonies of others and how God showed up in their lives of people you know or have heard of. In times of silence, these reminders serve as faith-builders, for our God is the same, yesterday, today and forever – Hebrews 13:8.

5. Stay Connected

Don’t isolate yourself; relationships, especially with other believers, can play a crucial role in shaping and refining us as individuals. Talk to trusted friends, mentors, or your community. Sometimes, God speaks through others, reminding us that we are seen and supported, even when He seems quiet.

So, if you find yourself whispering, “God, have you forgotten me?”

Let Joseph’s story be a reminder for you: you are not forgotten. You are being shaped, refined and prepared. God’s silence is not the end, it’s often the sacred middle before the miracle unfolds. Faithful is He who has begun a good work in you, and He will surely bring it to completion – in His own time. 

The same God who raised Joseph to influence a nation, who gave Hannah a child after years of sorrow, and who restored David from despair, is the God who is holding your heart now. The silence before sunrise doesn’t mean the sun won’t rise; it just means we’re in the dark before the light breaks through. If you’re in that season, waiting and wondering, hold on. God is still good. He is still nearby, and He is not finished with your story.



Prayer for the Waiting Heart:

Father, I thank you that even when I feel invisible and alone, You never let go of me. Sometimes, I feel as if I’ve been forgotten, as though You’re not listening to my prayers. I know I’m important to You and that You care about my struggles and needs. I’m sorry for doubting.

Lord, help me remember that You are always with me, even when I cannot feel Your presence. Help me find comfort and rest in You, for You are my everything.

I know because of You I can make it through. Even though I feel forgotten, I am not, because You are with me. Thank You for Your love and unwavering care. I believe that You are good and that You are still writing my story. I trust in You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Remi Badozi

Guest Contributor