Feeling forsaken can make it appear that life’s caving in.
I’ve always thought that of all people who should stand
shoulder to shoulder in tough times, it should be family. Recently, a
particular family member had the means to help my wife and me through a
difficult financial period but chose not to. I felt forsaken … actually angry.
Examples of feeling forsaken are rife. Thousands of children
feel forsaken by parents who abandon them. Perhaps they couldn’t afford to
raise them or didn’t want to. Forsaken spouses join their multitude. Spouses
have walked out on them for someone else because they don’t love them anymore
or because they are tired of marriage. Even friends sometimes forsake friends.
And there’s just something about tragedies that leaves us feeling forsaken too.
The psalmist doesn’t give the reason he feels forsaken. Maybe
he was just writing Hebrew poetry he knew people could identify with for
thousands of years to come. I have a feeling, though, that someone had forsaken
him or some difficulty had assaulted him. Because of it, he imagined God had
also.
When hard times strike, it’s easy to think God has abandoned
us. When others forsake us, it’s easy to transfer our feelings of abandonment
to God as well. Staking our faith in what the Bible teaches is essential when
we feel forsaken, and the Bible says God will never leave us. Others might, but
He won’t. Regardless of how we might treat Him, He’ll never leave. He’s the
only friend we can find who we can say that about with confidence.
When I feel forsaken, I remember how easy it is to confuse
feelings with reality. Feelings change often within the same day and even the
same minute. How we feel may or may not reflect reality. If we feel forsaken by
God, our feelings never mimic reality. God is forever by our sides to comfort,
guide, and instruct. When others walk out, He stands nearby.
When we feel forsaken by others—and particularly God—we must
depend on our faith, not feelings. Our relationship with God is built on truths
and realities, not feelings. Walking by faith helps us experience His presence
even when we don’t feel it.
When you’re feeling forsaken, remember God will never abandon
you.
Father, I thank You for always being by my side in good times
and bad.
Tweetable: Are you feeling forsaken?
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