Any other Christians struggle with this?

[kintsugi]

I've never understood what it means to have a relationship with God, especially when we can't see or hear from him. People say when you pray, don't just talk to God but listen for his response. I've never heard anything. Granted, I get what it means to believe and follow Christ. But to have a relationship implies some sort of two-way communication, right? Like spending time together in each other's presence. When people tell me, "Jesus loves me", I don't really feel anything. I don't get emotional during worship unless a song really touches me. Reading and studying the Bible is great, but I can't interact with scripture the same way as someone sitting right in front of me. I can apply God's word to my life, but to me, that's where it ends. I've since read that many people with autism tend to not be religious at all. I don't know if this is an autistic thing or something people in general deal with. I used to feel guilty for not feeling close to God, but now I wonder how it's possible. If it is, I want it, but I don't know how. It's like I'm just intellectually assenting that Christianity is the truth, but it hasn't impacted me in a real way. I was even baptized this year, but I still feel this way.

 

[Tom]

Complicated subject. But I really doubt the idea that autistics follow religion less then the general population. There has been a very sizable amount of people here being part of a religion. Sometimes it has seemed that it is even more then what you see in general population. In just my own extended family circle 3 of the 5 that are on the spectrum identify as Christian. But I can't say for sure as I have never seen any reliable stats on it

 

[Kitsuna]

As a whole, I also admit that it’s a complicated subject. I can’t answer all of it.

But the “I don’t get emotional during worship unless a song really touches me” part stood out.

My experience is this is normal. Especially if you go to a traditional service without a worship band.

I feel you shouldn’t get too hung up on this bit.

 

[CMZ]

I am on the spectrum and espouse a religion.

 

[NB79]

You may need to get filled with the Holy spirit, like in the bible, he is the best companion
How you do that? you ask, seek, and probably go to a church that believes in that..
When you say 'spend time in each other presence' well, if you have His Spirit in you, you can do that to some extent.

 

[NB79]

""""how it's possible. If it is, I want it, but I don't know how""""

Go to a church where they seek the presence of God, this exists, if you don't want to do that, also, ask God that you get filled with the Holy spirit it may cost prayer and searching sometimes.
Is as real as anything else.

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

 

[Rachie]

I've never understood what it means to have a relationship with God, especially when we can't see or hear from him. People say when you pray, don't just talk to God but listen for his response. I've never heard anything. Granted, I get what it means to believe and follow Christ. But to have a relationship implies some sort of two-way communication, right? Like spending time together in each other's presence. When people tell me, "Jesus loves me", I don't really feel anything. I don't get emotional during worship unless a song really touches me. Reading and studying the Bible is great, but I can't interact with scripture the same way as someone sitting right in front of me. I can apply God's word to my life, but to me, that's where it ends. I've since read that many people with autism tend to not be religious at all. I don't know if this is an autistic thing or something people in general deal with. I used to feel guilty for not feeling close to God, but now I wonder how it's possible. If it is, I want it, but I don't know how. It's like I'm just intellectually assenting that Christianity is the truth, but it hasn't impacted me in a real way. I was even baptized this year, but I still feel this way.

Kintsugi I am sorry that you are going through this now.
For me having a personal relationship with my faith means knowing that my faith is real, trusting in it and opening up to my creator from my heart at times myself. Sometimes, if you cannot pray know that your spirit knows how you feel and will explain your feelings to God, even when you may feel tongue tied to do so even if you just decide to pray using the Our Father in Matthew 5.

Perhaps also take a look at the post that I created about learning to accept yourself as a Christian and see that God does know you and you are precious in his sight and good enough as you are to give you more confidence in yourself and relationship with your faith.

R

Thread 'How to Learn to Love Ourselves as Christians'

Mar 14, 2025

Hi all, I thought I would create this post. Last week at church I attended a church group during Lent that is on different topics. Last week the topic was on How to love ourselves as Christians. I really wanted to listen to this topic and I thought it was really important to me as I struggle in this area quite a bit at times. As a neurodiverse person as well and having other conditions I can struggle as well like if I feel I slip up due to a sensory meltdown and it affects my behaviour and I may feel I fall short and can find it harder to love myself at those times and to forgive myself...

• Rachie
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Religion

• 

You say you have been baptised. Some Christians at baptism may be given one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said he would send believers the comforter which is the Holy Spirit to support them in their faith journey. There are several gifts of the Holy Spirit and you may have a gift there now which could help you in your walk and make it more obvious to you that God is just there and more inclined to open up to him. I would perhaps if you pray speak to God about your dilemma openly and perhaps try praying to the Holy Spirit to shed some light on your situation. These are some prayers you could use to pray to the Holy Spirit.
https://companionscross.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Prayers-to-the-Holy-Spirit.pdf

If you do not have one of the gifts, perhaps ask a church minister to lay their hands on you to bless you with the Holy Spirit. It has helped me in my faith journey the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you are not very sensitive sensory-you might not feel it so much bodily wise, but you could have one of the other gifts that are not enriched by being sensory.

Also, this testimony is about a young man with autism who has a faith and just trusts in God and states he cannot see him.
Autism doesn't stop me believing in a God I can’t see

 

[Alexej]

When people tell me,"Jesus loves me", I don't really feel anything.

Know that one - the phrase I would use is "for the Bible tells me so"

I don't get emotional during worship unless a song really touches me.

Understand that one, and am rarely touched

I used to feel guilty for not feeling close to God, but now I wonder how it's possible. If it is, I want it, but I don't know how. It's like I'm just intellectually assenting that Christianity is the truth, but it hasn't impacted me in a real way

I don't feel guilty - I just dont feel at all towards God or from God.
Faith has not impacted me in an emotional way - and this is exacerbated when I am in an evangelical church. Here people seem to "feel" God's presence so often - and I feel nothing.


However, I recognise that I am probably in the kataphatic tradition and not the apophatic tradition. (look them up).

You are not alone

 

[NB79]

David, enjoyed Gods presence you can see this in several Psalms, we can too
I believe autistics sometimes could sense his Presence better, since lots of them are spiritually sensitive.