Never Being Abandoned or Forsaken

Hearing the word ‘abandoned,’ what comes to mind? Maybe a long-cherished dream being abandoned when it no longer seems attainable? Or perhaps the image of a car abandoned by its driver after it becomes stuck in a flooded roadway? Most often we think of being abandoned in a relational sense.

 

We might hear a disturbing report about an infant that has been abandoned. Recently I read about a baby just days old that had been left in a car seat along a busy highway. A first responder driving by saw it and immediately stopped, putting the child in his vehicle and taking it to a safe place to receive care while authorities tried to identify and locate its mother. What possesses someone to forsake their own child in such a manner? 

 

Sadly, this isn’t the only kind of abandonment people experience. Long after memories of the ‘I do’s’ have faded, a husband abandons the wife of his youth. A father – or sometimes a mother – abandons their children, choosing instead the ‘pursuit of happiness,’ whatever they think that is. Family ties can be easily loosened for any number of reasons.

 

What about the BFF (best friend forever) who one day turns his or her back on us? Even in the workplace we might feel the pain of abandonment when told we’re no longer needed, forced into early retirement, or see long-expected promotion go to someone else. We can always count on people – until we can’t.

 

As a consequence, many folks go through their adult years with dysfunctional attitudes toward relationships. Personal experience has taught them that ‘everlasting love’ doesn’t last as long as one might suppose. For that reason, they’re reluctant to risk long-term commitments with anyone.

 

Most unfortunate is how such relational trauma can affect them spiritually. When hearing a sermon about their “heavenly Father,” instead of joy they feel only cynicism. They can’t help but relate that to an earthly father who abandoned them. If God is a Father, they reason, He’s probably just like their unfaithful dad, only bigger.

 

Perhaps this is why God’s promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” is repeated so many times in the Scriptures. He wants His children to know that no matter what, He will never abandon them.

 

We read this declaration in Deuteronomy 31:6, as Moses knows his time for leading the Israelites is nearing an end. Drawing from his own experience in depending on the Lord for more than 40 years, being delivered through one crisis after another, he urges them, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

 

Moses then spoke directly to his successor, Joshua, giving him the same assurance: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

 

After Moses died, to make sure Joshua hadn’t quickly forgotten this message, God reaffirmed His promise: “…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). And for emphasis, the Lord rephrased His promise as Joshua embraced the daunting task of leading the wayward Israelites: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

 

We find similar assurances repeated in both the Old and New Testaments. Having experienced God being with him as a shepherd boy warding off predators, a bold warrior taking on the giant Goliath, confronting the jealous hatred of King Saul, and then facing challenges to his throne as king of Israel, David knew the Lord wouldn’t abandon him. In his best-known psalm, he wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

 

As Solomon was preparing to succeed him as king, David echoed the words of Moses and others who had preceded Him: “[he] said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid of discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished’” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

 

Elsewhere in the Psalms we read, “…God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). And the prophet Isaiah wrote often about God’s unwavering faithfulness to His people. Here are just two examples: 

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).

 

Just moments before ascending to heaven, Jesus Christ found it important to quell any fears of abandonment among His disciples. After giving them His commission to “go and make disciples of all nations…,” He promised, “And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

 

Without question, God’s faithfulness is a major point of emphasis in the Scriptures. As it should be. In times of adversity – serious illness, family challenges, financial hardship, or other crises – we’re tempted to wonder, “Lord, are you there?” Especially for the many who have experienced abandonment by spouses, parents, or others they had trusted, the Lord wants us to know that when He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” His 'never' means…never. For now – and for eternity.

Fear From Within Worse Than Fear From Without

Typically I write my blog posts two or more weeks in advance, but with news about the Coronavirus developing so quickly, I thought offering a more immediate view might be helpful. I’m not disputing the urgency and seriousness of the situation that has public institutions, schools, workplaces, sporting events, and many other places shuttering their doors until the emergency passes. (Not to mention the growing shortage of toilet paper – the connection for which is yet to be determined.) But panic definitely is not the right form of response.

Last week my friend, Ken Korkow, a man who has shared godly wisdom with me on numerous occasions, offered the following perspective:

“I have compiled a short history of fears, with my personal greatest concern at the very bottom:

As a kid in grade school, we watched the 1950s animated film, 'Duck and Cover,' which showed us safety techniques for the dangers of Russian nuclear attacks. In case of an attack, the film taught us to be like Bert the Turtle, a cartoon character: duck under tables or desks, or next to walls, and tightly cover the back of our necks and faces.

Then there was the so-called 'Y2K bug,' also called the Year 2000 bug or Millennium Bug, which concerned a problem in the coding of computerized systems that was projected to create havoc in computers and computer networks around the world at the beginning of the year 2000 (in metric measurements, 2K). After more than a year of international alarm, feverish preparations, hoarding and programming corrections, few significant failures occurred in the transition from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000.

Since then we have had other much-feared international calamities, including:

2002 – West Nile virus

2004 – SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome)
2005 – Bird flu
2009 – Swine flu
2014 – Ebola virus
2016 – Zika virus
2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Along the way we have added ‘Active Shooter Drills’ in our schools.

But my biggest challenge is not the junk on the outside. It's the junk on my inside. 

Please consider Mark 7:14 - 23: "When He (Jesus) had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, 'Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!' When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, 'Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?' And He said, 'What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.'"

At some point, each one of us is going to die – and then comes eternal judgment. Therefore, my biggest wish/challenge/concern is that I would never sin again. But I continue to do so. Amazingly, God continues to love me anyway. And He loves you, too. A quick understanding of God’s grace can be found in the GRACE acronym: 

God's Riches At Christ's Expense

Paul Tripp, a pastor, author and conference speaker, has nailed it: ‘The stuff outside you, no matter how troubling, is not as dangerous as the mess inside you, and for that you have the grace of Jesus.’ So what is the solution? Marinate in God’s holy Word to know and live His truth and be actively involved in His purposes.”

My friend is not diminishing the seriousness and concern over the Coronavirus. Only weeks ago, most of us have never heard of it; now daily we’re receiving new revelations and warnings about it. But despite its gravity, we dare not lose sight of God’s sovereignty in this and every situation we face. And what we face within us is a far greater challenge than anything outside of us.

As 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and discipline.” Another passage provides this assurance: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). If we look away from God, fear can overwhelm us. But if we look to Him and trust in Him, fear can’t defeat us.

The Lord was with us in the past, through a variety of dangerous flus and viruses, as well as many other calamities. Thousands of years ago He made this promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). And that promise holds true for the present Coronavirus crisis, and for whatever else will follow. As certainly something will.