Alone and Abandoned

Deuteronomy 31:6 — Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the

Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Philippians 4:11-13 — Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever

situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and

every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I

can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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Life is weird sometimes, isn’t it? We’re going along, things seem to be just fine, we’re enjoying life and

camaraderie with friends and family, and then somehow an alarm goes off, a trap door opens, and things

aren’t what we thought they were. People we think we know leave us behind with no explanation. Now

the ground isn’t as firm as it was before. The road signs are blowing around and we don’t know which

direction to go. This is the exact time to pray and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. Stop

what you’re doing and have a little talk with Jesus, as the song says. Because you know what? He knows

all about being abandoned and alone, to a degree we could never endure. After one of the twelve

betrayed him, the other eleven ran like bunnies and denied they ever knew Him, including Peter, the rock

on whom the church was eventually built. Even Jesus’ own father could not look upon Him as all of our

sins were placed upon Him at the cross.

Satan loves it when we feel alone or abandoned because that’s the kind of crack in your armor that he is

always on the prowl to find. He loves to rub his hands together and get busy exploiting your situation. He

will make you feel even worse, and try to goad you into making some bad, ungodly decisions and actions.

Don’t fall into this trap. Instead, get into the word and put your hands together in prayer. Call a Christian

friend while you’re at it. Sometimes relationships can be mended and put back together, sometimes not.

We might not even know what happened that caused us to tumble from someone’s grace. The third

chapter of Ecclesiastes talks about the fact that while we’re here on earth, everything has its time. A time

to search or give up, keep or throw away, tear or mend.

So be strong in Jesus. He will keep you on solid ground and calm the road signs so you know which way

you should go. The Holy Spirit will guide you on this unexpected journey. Jesus has experienced what

you are feeling and going through and will hold you in the palm of His hand every step of the way. Be

strong in Him and assured that he truly will never leave you nor forsake you, even when people do.

Janet Schultz