FEELING ABANDONED?
Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me. (Psalm 27:10 — CSB)
This scripture has been a source of comfort and help to me for many years. It sustained me while I was in school, and when I moved to another state after college. There were seasons when my relationship with my family was not as close as it is today. During those seasons, I experienced intense loneliness and often felt abandoned by those who should have been closest to me. This was partly my doing because I was not reaching out to them and they were not doing all they could to stay connected to me. One day, in my loneliness, I was studying the book of Psalms because I felt King David understood my plight, when I came across the above scripture and it literally became my salvation. I realized a couple of things. First and foremost I discovered God was with me. I came to know, as it is recorded in the Bible — He is a Father to both the fatherless and motherless. Even though my parents were alive, I felt their absence and it seemed as though I was parentless.
I discovered something so profound it changed my life and freed me from the habitual feelings of loneliness. I discovered when I invited Jesus to live in my heart, in that very instant, He came in; and God, the Holy Spirit, made my heart His home. With that realization, I recognized there was no reason to feel lonely any longer because I could never, ever be alone again. Why? The person of the Holy Spirit now lived in my heart and I had a companion. I had someone to talk to, to share my concerns with, and to comfort me in my distress. I invite you to let this truth liberate you today. It is impossible for you to ever be alone again because the Holy Spirit makes His home inside your heart, the very moment you accept Jesus.
Many of you have felt abandoned by loved ones, some of you from an early age. As a result of this abandonment, loneliness has been a constant companion. Along with loneliness you developed self-esteem issues and a feeling of dissatisfaction with who you are, and with your life. Others of you feel a sense of not belonging to anyone, including God.
The abandonment by those who were assigned to care for you, to train, and help you embark on God’s plan for your life has been devastating, but God… Why don’t you say it, “But God.” God has not abandoned you. He is as close as the very breath you breathe. Psalm 27:10 gives you a promise. When your father and mother forsake you, God will take care of you. This means God will become your parent, your helper, and your protector.
He is with you everywhere you go. God becomes what your parents should have been. He is your ever-present help in times of trouble. He is a constant source of strength for you. He will never leave you nor forsake you because He now makes His home in your heart. Let me reiterate what I was saying earlier, it is impossible for you to ever be alone again because once you invite Jesus into your heart, the Holy Spirit comes in and takes up permanent residence in you. Make the decision to forgive those who may have abandoned you so you can experience the fullness of God in all areas of your life. Often the people who abandon you cannot explain why they did this, because some of their behaviors were learned from childhood.
At times, people pass on their childhood experiences, either good or bad, because they have not learned to make different choices from those with which they grew up. When you forgive, you release them and yourself to experience the freedom that comes from knowing God, and you also free yourself to live as God intended. Let go of abandonment and embrace a new life of hope, happiness, and fulfillment that is found in the security of God’s love and His presence in your life. God is indeed your Father!