When God Seems Distant: Surprising Ways God Deepens Our Faith and Draws Us Near

by Kyle Strobel, John Coe

Most Christians experience zeal early in their Christian life, but when that fades to a season of dryness, it's tempting to assume one of two We have failed or God is absent. So we throw ourselves into ministry, spiritual disciplines, and study in order to break through to the other side of this dry season, not realizing that willpower and habit modification cannot "fix" our spiritual lives or kick-start a new season of spiritual growth. Why? Because we've missed the point of the wilderness.

Far from being evidence that we're failing in our faith, spiritual dry seasons are actually part of God's plan to draw us into a deeper walk with him. With the wisdom and compassion of those who have been there, Kyle Strobel and John Coe invite you to draw near to the Lord as you walk through the differing seasons of the soul. They explain the purpose of the wilderness in the story of God's people--including our Savior--and show how our spiritual lives actually benefit from times of dryness.

If you have found yourself in the desert, desperately longing for the living waters Jesus promises, this book will assure you that God is not absent--and you may be on the cusp of experiencing a deeper faith.

Genres: Faith, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian

224 pages, Paperback

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Kyle Strobel is a husband, father, friend, theologian, writer, speaker, and practitioner of spiritual formation. He is a Jonathan Edwards scholar, and seeks to bridge the gap between the scholarly world and the life of the church.

Kyle is the co-author of Where Prayer Becomes Real: How Honesty with God Transforms Your Soul, The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus' Path of Power in a Church that has Abandoned It,Beloved Dust: Drawing Close to God by Discovering the Truth About Yourself , and is the author of Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards.

You can find Kyle at Twitter.com/KyleStrobel; Facebook.com/KyleCStrobel

Reviews

[Andrew Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kyle and John do a fantastic job of defining and discussing the different seasons we experience in life with Jesus. Whether in consolation, desert, or desolation, this book challenges you to not only to see how God may be at work, but even more to view that season as the gift that it is.

The thought of viewing spiritual dryness or desolation as a gift from God to reveal to us areas of our life that he wants to hand over to him is introduced early on and is reflected on throughout. To me, this was a fresh perspective (although, according to the authors, not a new one historically) on the experience of the Christian life and helped reframe how we should think about spiritual growth.

My only critique is that I was left wanting some more practical wisdom of what abiding with the Lord may look like in these seasons, especially as it relates to the later discussion of spiritual disciplines. However, I understand this is the topic of an upcoming book, so that critique itself may be premature all things considered.

If the aim of this book was to put words to the spiritual highs and lows that we often experience and talk about, then the authors certainly accomplished that effectively. I highly recommend reading this book!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the authors did a good job of addressing the ups and downs of the spiritual life (terms used were consolation, desert, and desolation). I read this with my 15 and 17 year old boys. We’ve read “Practicing the Way” together in the past, so this was a helpful book to also work out that one. My biggest thing with this one was having an intentional conversation around the desert time-that it WILL come, anticipate it, but what is it an opportunity for, and how can we use that time to allow God to transform us while being aware of our brokenness. Instead of manufacturing a passion for God through the habits getting increased, the desert is a gift to allow us to be honest before God, face Truth, and rest in our faith and His grace and strength. I believe we need to have a full understanding of our life here with Christ, what it will look like and feel like at various times, and teach people about that so someone can’t say “I tried God, and He didn’t work for me”. Knowing what’s coming is the full counting of the cost as we should never try and trick people in that life with Christ is all rainbows and heart felt worship. It’s not. But this isn’t a bad thing! I gave it 4 stars because I did think parts of it were repetitive, but still think it’s an important read to be included for the concept & perspective around spiritual formation.

[Greg Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to When God Seems Distant already familiar with Kyle Strobel’s work—particularly Where Prayer Becomes Real (co-authored with John Coe), Formed for the Glory of God, and his Substack writing. I anticipated that the insights here would be helpful, and I was not disappointed!

The central problem the authors address is one most Christians know well: the experience of feeling that God is not working, paired with the subtle assumption that we must now fix ourselves. Strobel and Coe gently but firmly dismantle that assumption. They help us see that God’s activity has not ceased when our feelings go quiet; rather, our gracious God is revealing aspects of our character and long-habituated responses to life that still exhibit our need for His love, grace, and mercy. God is not absent—He is inviting us to live honestly with Him in the reality of our lives. In this, the book shows clear continuity with Where Prayer Becomes Real, while also extending and deepening those insights.

One of the book’s great strengths is that it is evident the authors have paid close attention to how the Lord actually works in the lives of His children. This wisdom is going to be striking, new, and enlightening to the ears of many, though it is not absent in the Protestant and Reformed traditions further back in our history. These are not abstract principles, but pastoral insights offered for the good of the church. The opening chapter’s analogy is especially memorable and clarifying: the Christian life is likened to a peaceful lake in our early years of faith—sun shining, waters calm, joy abundant. But as God matures us, the lake is drained, and what was always at the bottom is revealed. This exposure is not God’s withdrawal, but His loving work of transformation, teaching us where deeper dependence on Him is required.

Another strength is the way the book wraps up, proposing five paths that readers may walk after reading the book. These paths are tailored for Christians in various places in life. What this does is to help readers envision the Lord drawing us near wherever we are in our journey, encouraging us to wrestle further with the questions that will inevitably arise through the reading.

Stylistically, the book feels written by fellow travelers, not academics. It is highly accessible, experiential in tone, and intentionally invitational. The authors consistently encourage readers not merely to understand these insights but to be before the Lord with them. I believe there is much to be gained if readers will actually engage the “Experience” sections that conclude each of the chapters.

If I were to offer any critique, it would be that at times I felt like the authors were repeating themselves, but I think this is a function of my reading the book over a short period. I believe this repetition will be helpful for anyone reading it over a longer period or for referencing / review specific chapters later.

Personally, I found many moments where the authors’ experiences mirrored my own journey and response to seasons of spiritual dryness (disorientation, attempting to compensate with mere passion). One of the most searching and helpful themes is their exposure of how easily we resort to self-willed religious effort. We do “spiritual things,” yet fail to involve the Lord Himself. I know this tendency well. The way the authors name and address this dynamic has already helped me abide more intentionally in Christ.

I gladly commend the insights the Lord has given these men regarding spiritual formation. This book has substantial practical value, particularly for Christians who feel frustrated by the “ups and downs” of their spiritual growth. Strobel and Coe help us see how our pursuits may have actually taken us away from the One we are drawn to. I have already had fruitful conversations about this book with my small group, and I plan to purchase multiple copies to give to fellow travelers who may feel disoriented by God’s apparent distance.

I give When God Seems Distant five stars. I anticipate lifelong benefit from the way it is already drawing me nearer to the Lord and reshaping how I look for His activity in my life.
I was provided an advance copy for review; the opinions here are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing read! This is a book to refer back to time and time again, as it is packed with so many nuggets of wisdom and insight pulled right from scripture. The authors did a wonderful job at explaining the seasons that you go through in your faith walk and how it is not all "polished" or fruitful. There are times in following Jesus where it is messy or dry or painful, and these words show readers that we can turn to Him in all of those times. We don't have to muster up enough will or discipline in order to be enough for Jesus - He already covered that through His own actions on the cross. This book was a great reminder of the way in which the Lord embraces all of the parts of us, if only we would let Him in and show Him. He is not scared by the process, but rather wants to help us through it. I will say that this book is not necessarily easy to digest, but it is thought-provoking and needed to keep pushing through hard seasons of faith.

There were many quotes that stood out to me, but here are a few I jotted down:

"Desolation is the Lord revealing the truth that we long to establish ourselves more than seeking life in him and with him." (page 51)

"We are tempted to think we are saved at the cross and then formed through our own savvy and effort. But spiritual formation is not actualizing ourselves. Spiritual formation is losing our self-made and self-established life to know life in Christ." (page 115)

"But even our goodness needs purification from sin and self because the opposite of sin is not simply goodness but faith." (page 128)

"...you are struggling too much to be able to say with confidence that you know the love of God. Don't try to generate faith in these moments. Don't try to fix yourself. Instead, graps ahold of your struggle, fears, worries, and needs, and bring all of that to the Lord. Come out of hiding and tell him exactly what you are feeling and thinking and wrestling with. Be open to his forgiveness, mercy, and love." (page 143)

"When you go to pray or practice a discipline, and you feel the bottom drop out and the gas tank goes down to E, remember that the goal is not to supercharge your will to get it done. The goal is to go to God and say, God, I need YOU." (page 173)


I received a copy from Revell Books for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers January 2026 batch. A positive review is not required & all opinions are my own.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

When God Seems Distant by Kyle Strobel; John Coe
Surprising Ways God Deepens Our Faith and Draws Us Near

What If Times of Spiritual Dryness Are Actually Part of God's Plan?
· Discover how to reframe times when God feels distant
· Go beyond willpower and habit modification to true spiritual growth
· Learn to live in, not just through, fallow times

Most Christians experience zeal early in their Christian life, but when that fades to a season of dryness, it's tempting to assume one of two things: We have failed or God is absent. So we throw ourselves into ministry, spiritual disciplines, and study in order to break through to the other side of this dry season, not realizing that willpower and habit modification cannot "fix" our spiritual lives or kick-start a new season of spiritual growth. Why? Because we've missed the point of the wilderness.

Far from being evidence that we're failing in our faith, spiritual dry seasons are actually part of God's plan to draw us into a deeper walk with him. With the wisdom and compassion of those who have been there, Kyle Strobel and John Coe invite you to draw near to the Lord as you walk through the differing seasons of the soul. They explain the purpose of the wilderness in the story of God's people--including our Savior--and show how our spiritual lives actually benefit from times of dryness.

If you have found yourself in the desert, desperately longing for the living waters Jesus promises, this book will assure you that God is not absent--and you may be on the cusp of experiencing a deeper faith.
The book is easy to read and understand.
A good resource.
I recommend this book.
When God Seems Distant by Kyle Strobel; John Coe
is a 4-star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Kyle Strobel; John Coe.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[CFBC Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember ever thinking that God seemed distant. Only that he was silent, perhaps because I turned away from him or maybe for the reason I was so insignificant that I couldn’t expect him to answer. So I wasn’t very enthusiastic about reading this book. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to read it anyway and I was surprised where it lead.

Essentially the authors are saying that God never leaves us, but we face times of struggle because he desires us to trust him and not ourselves. They use the terms “consolation”, “desert”, and “desolation” to describe what believers go through. Consulation when we feel close to Lord, like that new Christian excitement, desert when God seems distant or angry, and desolation when it appears he is no where to be found. It took awhile for me to grab ahold of those terms. I never considered that the Lord testing me was simply to direct me to have faith in him and not because I was a sinner. The problem, as the authors note, is that Christians too often try to stir up that emotional closeness we had in “good” times serving the Lord by working harder or doing more, trying thus to gain what can only be achieved through putting are trust in Him.

Anyway, though I found the book was repetitive, I think that actually helped me more clearly grasp a theological concept I found new yet strangely familiar. It made perfect sense in light of scripture. I highly recommend this book for any Christian striving to remain close to God in the midst of hard times.

—reviewed by BH

[Cassie (eclectically.bookish.cassie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This is a thought-provoking and challenging text, not in reading level but in content. I am still sitting with the ideas days after finishing. On one hand the concept that believers go through seasons of early consolation, the desert, and desolation in their walk with God felt revelatory. I had not thought much about how often I rely on my feelings and a hope to return to the past excitement of my early days of faith. I felt probed by the authors' questions about whether I use spiritual disciplines as a means to "fix" what feels broken when I am dry or God feels far off. The application sections of each chapter inspired thoughtful and prayerful reflection as well.

That being said, I still found myself wishing I could have enjoyed this more. Some of the chapters felt very repetitive and some of the best content was in the final sections on pathways for moving forward from here. I wish those ideas had been incorporated throughout rather than presented as next steps. And while I was pushed in my worldview and theology in a good way, I can also see how this book could be a source of discouragement if read without the right lens in mind. It felt a little like once consolation is over all that lies ahead is desert and desolation. Overall, the ideas here were good, but the execution was not as effective or hopeful as it could have been.

Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Books for the digital review copy.

[Nathan Bridgeford · Rating 5 out of 5]

personally, this is the most helpful book on spiritual formation i’ve ever read. while it never touches the rhetorical or philosophical heights of something like the Divine Conspiracy, it is positively resolute in reminding us that the entire means and the entire end of spiritual formation are found simply in being with our Lord. to some people that may come across as obvious or repetitive, but i don’t think we can overestimate how often we need that reminder in practice. nothing we do - our strict adherence to the rules, our commitment to a robust devotional life, the silencing of our conscience through good works - none of that can secure us a greater portion of God’s love and assurance; not because he’s just that tough to please but because Christ has already accomplished that work in its entirety for us. by faith, then, we can rest in that reality even in the desert or in desolation without wondering what we need to do to get out. we are loved, seen, and forgiven even there.

[reese b · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to be important to me when during the first chapter. I felt that Strobel and Coe took a peek inside my brain and cracked open my heart. It only makes the most sense that there will be seasons in my walk with Jesus. Each season has its purpose from harvest to pruning. This book reminds me of the Chris Renzema song “Let the Ground Rest.” The lyrics say “ God, He made four seasons and only one spring… You’re gonna grow, I know this But for now, just let the ground rest.”

This book is a reminder that just because the season feels dry does not mean you are stagnant or alone. I appreciate the chapters full of wisdom, real life experience, and at the end time for personal reflection! This was great!

THANK YOU BAKER BOOKS FOR THE COPY!

[Nikaley Chandler]

Not really sure how to rate this one. Since I went through the dark night of the soul a year ago, the way this book talks about seasons of consolation, desert, and desolation was so encouraging to me. What I experienced was normal. This book affirmed what I went through. However—a lot of this book felt a little over my head, or not explained well. I think examples of people’s stories would have made it such an easier read. I also don’t think they made this as practical as their first book. I found myself frustrated more than encouraged. All that said, I will read it again and probably recommend it to others with caveats.

[Bradford Combs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will need to reread this book, I think. I was struggling to comprehend their message and think maybe I was just starting to understand toward the end. I think the book could be helpful. It just didn't click right for me to get help from it, and that's probably a me problem moreso than the book or its authors.

[Pam Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the perspective of "spiritual dry seasons. My favorite is the "experience" sections of the book as they reach me at a different level. As others have said, transformative.

[Wagner Floriani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and encouraging, just wasn’t sold on the grounding framework.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A forthright, honest, and theologically-informed reflection on the spiritual experience of desolation in the Christian life.

Video review here: https://youtu.be/u9o-6fVTYZk