The Barriers Between Us and God

"We need God in a world that is trying its best to erase God."

When I look at the condition of humanity today and the pace at which we are moving, I notice something deeply concerning. God is becoming smaller in the eyes of society.

Many people are placing their hope in false solutions like fame, endless self-improvement advice, productivity, outward success, and even romance or relationships. These things promise fulfillment, but they become empty substitutes for true identity and purpose.

Yet underneath the surface, people are hurting. We carry wounds that leave us feeling empty, disconnected, and spiritually malnourished. Something inside us longs for peace, wholeness, and belonging, but the world keeps us distracted from the only One who can truly satisfy.

This is where the barriers begin.

Our Spirit Is Starving

Many of us feel unfulfilled because the deepest part of our being, our spirit, is hungry. It craves connection, identity, love, and stability. But when life feels overwhelming or painful, we tend to search outside of ourselves for healing.

We do this because the inside often feels broken, and we have not yet discovered that God is the One who knows how to restore the parts of us we cannot fix on our own.

These inner wounds create barriers between us and God. They interrupt our ability to feel His love, hear His voice, and trust His intentions for our lives.

Some common thoughts shaped by these barriers are:

God does not love me.

God is not present.

God is not near.

God is disappointed in me.

I am not worthy of His closeness.

But these beliefs are not rooted in truth. They are rooted in unhealed pain.

What Is a Barrier?

A barrier is anything that blocks or prevents access to something.

Spiritually, a barrier is anything that gets in the way of intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

For example, if someone views God only as a strict rule enforcer rather than a loving Father, that fear becomes a barrier. It prevents closeness, trust, and warmth in the relationship. And most often, these beliefs were learned through experiences that distorted who God truly is.

The Root Barrier: Sin

Sin separates us from God, but for many people, it shows up in a very specific form. Sin is the brokenness in us and around us that creates distance between us and God, even when we don’t mean for it to.

The Direct Barrier: Trauma

Although sin is the root barrier, trauma is often the direct barrier we feel most. Trauma is a wound that forms through painful or overwhelming experiences. It often comes from circumstances beyond our control and leaves behind effects like fear, shame, anger, confusion, and mistrust.

These effects turn into spiritual blockages. They influence how we view God, how we relate to others, and how we see ourselves.

This is why many people struggle with faith.

When a person has experienced trauma, it becomes difficult to believe in a loving, present, protective God. We ask, "How could a good God allow bad things to happen?"

Trauma Shapes How We See God

If you ask someone why they struggle to believe in God, the answer often connects to a painful memory. A moment where they felt God did not intervene. A moment that shaped their image of Him.

Even in your own life, ask yourself:

Do I feel ashamed in God’s presence?

Do I feel unworthy of His closeness?

Do I struggle to trust His goodness?

Do I carry a bruised sense of identity?

Do I shrink back from God because I feel too broken?

These questions reveal the emotional and spiritual residue trauma leaves behind in our minds, hearts, and spirits.

These feelings are not signs of weak faith. They are signs of an unhealed wound.

Trauma Is Passed Through Generations

Trauma comes from many places, such as:

Family experiences passed down through generations

Cultural and community trauma

Harmful belief systems

Dysfunctional parenting

Distorted religious teachings

Abuse or neglect

Moments of deep emotional pain

Times where comfort or safety was missing

Over time, these layers create a wedge between:

Us and God

Us and our identity

Us and truth

God begins to feel small and distant while our pain begins to feel large and close.

The Rift Is Not Caused By Trauma Itself

The traumatic event is not what creates the separation.

The separation happens in the aftermath.

When comfort is missing

When support is not provided

When we learn to survive without God

When coping becomes our way of life

When we rely on ourselves instead of Him

This leads to frustration, exhaustion, and an endless chase for peace that never lasts.

We cannot reach wholeness on our own.

We were not created to live independently of God. But many times, we still try.

Why We Need God in a Wounded World

We desperately need God in a world that is slowly trying to erase His presence and influence. Trauma becomes a tool the enemy uses to turn our hearts away from God by planting doubt, fear, and resentment.

In our longing for relief, many of us turn to the world for answers. But the world is also wounded. It cannot heal what it did not design.

Creation cannot restore in the way the Creator can.

The world may offer temporary relief, but only God can offer full restoration.

Only His presence can heal the spirit.

Only His truth can free the identity.

Only His love can mend the soul.

True wholeness comes from encountering the Master Healer, Yahweh, through Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah.

"We need God in a world that is trying its best to erase God. To erase God’s existence, power, and relevance in our lives. And our trauma is the seed the enemy uses to turn us away from God, out of anger and hurt, and to turn to the world for healing and solutions."

The Hidden Barriers Trauma Creates

When we experience trauma, it leaves us shaken and hurt. This creates a barrier not only between us and ourselves but also between us and the Heavenly Father.

You may notice you shrink back and do not want much to do with God.

You may feel God betrayed you by not intervening when someone else was hurting you.

And I am deeply sorry for the pain and distress you have endured.

Unfortunately, we live in a world of free will, and some people choose to use their free will to inflict pain. And sometimes it is not people at all. Sometimes the environments we are born into, filled with suffering, scarcity, and stress, weigh heavily on our spirits. These experiences can keep us in survival mode and make us wonder:

Where is God?

Does He care about me?

If He does, why am I in this situation?

These questions and feelings are understandable. But they are also barriers. They keep us from trusting God and from wanting a relationship with Him.

So what happens when we need healing?

What happens when we need a love we cannot give ourselves?

What happens when our thoughts overwhelm us and peace feels far away?

What happens when all the self-help advice and techniques still leave us hurting?

Where do we go then?

This is why we need God. Because no matter how many remedies we find in this world, only God can complete the restoration process for deep scars, deep fears, deep suffering, and deep trauma. But if we are unaware of who God truly is, or if we have a distorted view of Him, these barriers will convince us to stay far away from the One we actually need most.

This is not a preachy article meant to force you into belief or make you feel guilty for the pain you carry. I’ve been there too. I’m human, right here with you. This is simply an invitation.

An invitation to try God.

To welcome Him into your situation.

To give Him a chance to show you that He is the God who heals trauma.

I Invite You to Reflect on Three Questions

1. What barriers do I currently feel between myself and God?

2. Which painful experiences have shaped the way I see Him?

3. Do I view God more through the lens of past wounds or through the truth of His character?

A Gentle Reminder

You do not need to fix yourself to come to God. You simply come as you are.

Come with the fear.

Come with the woundedness.

Come with the anger.

Come with the questions.

Come with the pain.

Come with the shame or distorted beliefs.

Just come and see about the Creator of the world.

He is not intimidated by your wounds.

He is not surprised by your fears.

He is not distant from your pain.

He is not angry at your questions or doubts.

He is the One who restores identity, heals trauma, and removes the barriers that keep us from knowing Him fully.

Prayer:

May the barriers that stand between you and the Heavenly Father be removed so your heart can heal from the trauma and pain that have overwhelmed you. In Yeshua's (Jesus) name, Amen.

With love and grace,

Kingdom Daughter, Shyteria 

🤎

---

If this article blessed you and you believe it may help another kingdom daughter heal, please share it with her.

Shyteria Smith, M.Ed.

Faith & Trauma Recovery Coach

Trauma-Informed Educator

Founder, Kingdom Daughters Healing

Feel free to leave a reflection below offered in love and kindness.

(Comments containing attachments, links, or media are not accepted. All submissions are reviewed before posting.)

If you’re beginning your healing journey, my Faith & Trauma Recovery Guide is available on the homepage. It’s a gentle roadmap to help you start restoring your mind, body, and spirit.