When the Path to God Feels Blocked
Finding Freedom from Invisible Walls
Would you rather listen?
We’re in a 6-week series on creating deeper emotional intimacy with God. If you missed the previous articles, you can find them here:
Quieting the Inner Critic: Hearing God's Affirmation Over the Noise
Is That Really You, God? Recognizing His Voice Amidst the Noise
That Holy Ache: What Your Spiritual Longing is Trying to Tell You
Have you ever been there? You truly desire that deep, heart-to-heart closeness with God. You know, intellectually, that you are His beloved. You lean in, trying to hear His voice, to honour that sacred longing stirring within you. And yet, despite all your sincere yearning, do you sometimes feel… stuck? As if there’s an invisible pane of glass between you and Him, or perhaps an unseen, tangled fishing net subtly hindering your spirit’s free movement?
It’s a tender spot for so many of us. That feeling of doing all the "right things" in your faith – praying, reading, seeking – but still, something feels like it’s muffling the connection, keeping you from that deep, easy intimacy you crave. If that resonates, please know you’re in good company, and there’s no shame in it. This isn't a sign you've done something wrong, or that God has moved away. Often, these are quiet, internal hindrances, like shadows we didn't realize were there.
This article isn't about diagnosing or assigning blame. Instead, think of it as a gentle, torchlit exploration into some of these common inner landscapes. We’ll look with compassionate curiosity, always holding onto the radiant hope of God's liberating power and His deep desire to draw us ever closer.
Understanding the Common "Blocks" to Intimacy
Imagine walking a beloved, familiar path through an ancient forest, one you’ve trod many times in sunlight and shadow. But today, you find the way forward surprisingly obstructed. Perhaps it’s not a great, obvious boulder, but rather a subtle thicket of thorny vines grown across the way, or a series of almost imperceptible tripwires hidden amongst the leaves. So too, on our spiritual journey, unseen obstacles can arise from the quiet corners of our own hearts. Let’s consider a few with extreme gentleness:
The Echoes of Old Wounds: Life, even for the most faithful among us, can leave tender bruises on the soul. Past hurts – perhaps the sting of betrayal in a trusted relationship, the disillusionment of a painful church experience, or the lingering ache of unresolved grief – can create subconscious defenses. Like a bird with a once-broken wing that remains overly cautious of flight, these wounds can make us hesitant to fully open ourselves, to trust without reservation, or to embrace vulnerability, even with God. We might unknowingly carry a fear of being hurt again, a fear that projects itself onto the One whose very essence is love.
The Weight of Limiting Beliefs & Internalized "Lies": Deep within the soil of our hearts, sometimes thorny weeds of untruth can take root. These are the limiting beliefs, the internalized "lies" about who we are, who God is, or how the world works. They whisper insidious things like, "I’m not truly good enough for God’s love," "He must be so disappointed in me," or "I have to earn my place, I have to be perfect." These are the familiar taunts of that "Inner Critic" we’ve spoken of before, but they can also be broader, more pervasive deceptions that act like smudged lenses, distorting our vision of God’s unwavering, grace-filled gaze. They can become heavy, invisible chains around our spirit.
The Shadow of Unhelpful Vows & Inner Resolutions: In moments of acute pain or deep fear, often in our younger years, we can make silent, fiercely protective inner vows. "I’ll never let myself be that vulnerable again," or "I have to do this all myself; I can’t really count on anyone." These resolutions, forged in the fires of self-preservation, might have felt like strength at the time. Yet, like a self-built fortress whose walls have become too high, these vows can eventually wall us off – not just from further hurt, but also from the very divine companionship and healing balm our souls crave.
Please, dear friend, hear this with all the compassion of Christ: acknowledging these patterns is never, ever about shame. It’s simply recognizing our shared human experience in a fractured world. Our good Shepherd, with His gentle crook, yearns to lead us out of these thickets and into His open pastures of freedom and healing.
The Invitation to Gentle Self-Awareness & God’s Healing Touch
To speak of these hidden blocks isn't to send you on an endless, anxious archaeological dig into your own soul. That kind of relentless introspection can become a bewildering maze. Instead, picture yourself simply opening the inner rooms of your heart, one by one, and inviting the warm, illuminating presence of Jesus to enter with you. This is about bringing these tender, shadowed places into His loving light with courageous honesty, holding a quiet hope for His healing touch.
The Holy Spirit is the most gentle and discerning Guide on this inner journey. He knows every contour of your heart, every hidden ache, every tangled path. He will only reveal what you are ready to see, always with profound tenderness, never to overwhelm, but always to lead you towards greater wholeness and deeper intimacy with the Father.
I remember my own struggle with this. I was a successful Christian musician who witnessed miracles, and saw the emotional effect of my ministry on others. However, deep inside it felt like there was this huge hollow tube that God’s blessing and love flowed through, but it never touched the sides. It was always out of my reach and experience. I was so frustrated.
A long and convoluted journey put me in touch with some wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, and through their gentle guiding, I began to clear away the rubble that was not allowing my heart to access God’s heart in any kind of tangible way. This is still a work in progress, but now I know where it comes from, and I simply deal with it, to keep the path clear.
Grace for the Process: It’s a Journey, Not a Quick Fix
You need to be gentle with this process. Dismantling these deeper, often long-held internal barriers is rarely like flipping a switch. It’s more akin to the patient, loving work of tending a precious, somewhat neglected garden – carefully loosening compacted soil, gently removing weeds by the root, adding nourishment, and trusting the slow, miraculous process of growth.
Offer yourself the same patience, the same tender understanding you would extend to a dearly loved friend navigating a difficult stretch of their journey. Trust in God’s perfect timing and His infinitely creative, often surprisingly subtle, methods for bringing healing and growth. He is the Divine Physician, and His touch is always restorative, always loving.
And please remember, you don’t have to walk this path alone. Sometimes, the journey through these inner landscapes is made easier and safer with a companion: a trusted friend who embodies godly wisdom, a spiritually mature mentor, a discerning spiritual director who can help you trace the Spirit’s gentle movements, or a compassionate counsellor skilled in navigating the heart’s terrain. We are, after all, made for connection, members of one Body, called to bear one another’s burdens and rejoice in every step towards freedom.
Simple Practice: A Prayer for Illumination & Gentle Release
If any of these thoughts have stirred something within you, may I invite you into a simple, gentle practice this week? This isn't about striving or forcing anything, but simply about creating a small, sacred space for God to meet you.
Find a quiet moment, perhaps with a comforting cup of tea, in a place where your soul can breathe. Settle your body, quiet your mind as best you can. Then, from the sincerity of your heart, you might gently pray words like these, or similar ones that feel true for you:
"Father, You search me and know me, and I long to be fully open to Your presence, to truly feel the depth of your love. If there are any unhealed places within me, any limiting beliefs that cloud my vision of You or myself, or any hidden vows that keep me from Your embrace, I ask Your Holy Spirit to bring them gently to my awareness, in Your perfect time and Your perfect way. Grant me the courage to look with You, the grace to receive Your healing, and the wisdom to walk in the greater freedom You desire for me. Thank you for Your patient, unwavering love that never gives up on me. Amen."
After your prayer, simply rest in quiet attentiveness for a few moments. Just be. If a particular thought, a feeling, a memory, or an image gently surfaces, you might wish to note it down in a journal to prayerfully ponder later, without any pressure or need for immediate answers. This is simply a soft invitation to awareness, a turning of the heart towards God’s leading.
Ready to Transform What's Holding You Back into Profound Spiritual Freedom?
That "overgrown gate" you're noticing—those hidden hindrances to intimacy with God—aren't meant to keep you stuck. They're invitations to a deeper, more liberating journey! If you're ready to move beyond what's subtly holding you back and step into the unhindered sunshine of God's love and purpose, then the "Beloved & Called" 5-Week Immersive Journey is your next sacred step.
This is more than just a course; it's a guided path to identify and gently dismantle those internal blocks, leading you to an authentic, free-flowing connection with God. And to ensure you experience truly personal breakthroughs, this journey includes two private, 1:1 coaching sessions with me, Darlene, offering tailored guidance, prayerful support, and a safe space to accelerate your transformation.
If you're ready to bravely clear your path and embrace the liberating intimacy your soul craves, discover how the complete "Beloved & Called" journey, with its personalized coaching, can transform your faith from the inside out:
Click Here to Explore the Full Beloved & Called Journey
Reflection Questions for Your Heart:
As you’ve read this, can you recall a time, perhaps recently or in the past, when you sensed something (maybe an old hurt, a persistent fear, or a limiting belief) that might have been subtly hindering your ability to fully receive God’s love or to trust His guidance?
What does the idea of "gentle self-awareness" regarding these internal blocks mean to you personally, especially as distinct from harsh self-criticism or becoming lost in endless introspection?
As you consider this possibility of inner healing and freedom, what is one particular aspect of God’s character (perhaps His profound patience, His tender mercy, His power to make all things new, His unwavering faithfulness) that brings a sense of comfort or courage to your heart today?
Blessing
May God, who comforts and knows you deeply, bless you with His tenderness this week. May He gently guide you to freedom and a closer walk with His loving heart.
Go with God and be blessed,
Hi, I’m Darlene Hull—author, speaker, Spiritual Director, and Christian Life Coach with a background in Mental Health Coaching, Insight Coaching, and Spiritual Formation. I help women grow deeper in their faith and live abundant, Christ-centered lives by offering clarity and practical tools to embrace God’s purpose in every season. I’m passionate about seeing women thrive in relationships, business, and personal growth, all while keeping Christ at the center.
Discover my daily devotional: Gentle Pathways: Daily Moments with God
Find out more about Darlene here: PraiseWalker.com
All Biblical quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.