Thank you all for your responses, I am feeling much better that it is more of a global problem. Sometimes I know I feel like it’s always just me who can’t do it, I walk into my music class (sound production) and everyone plays, so it’s a little disheartening.
I think my future looks like a lot of breaking things down, until I get some kind of internal pulse that carries over to more and more stuff.
@Beatup6String I just got a message back from Molly, the lady who I rave about on this forum, (Viola player and neuroscientist talking about practice for better musicians) and essentially you echoed her opinion.
She goes one step further in that she told me to march in spot to the beat until I got the internal pulse, next step march and clap the rhythm (strumming pattern) then march and air strum, march and guitar strum muted strings, march strum unmuted, then change chords.
Seems like so much work 
but also seems like the only way to get some solid internal pulse basics.
Again thanks everyone for your offerings, makes me feel a little more seen