I Will Never Abandon You

GOD HAS SAID I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU. I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU. Hebrews 13.5.

Whenever anything happens to our dear ones or ourselves which is serious, sad and painful, our first reaction is that, “God has forsaken me!” We cannot understand or appreciate the idea that a loving God will allow the children He loves, to suffer. To a very large extent, it is because we as parents do not allow our children to suffer at all. As soon as they are in any kind of pain, suffering or sickness, immediately we do our utmost to relieve them. If it were possible, we would even be willing to exchange places and suffer on their behalf!

We have experienced this in our family many times. While on a holiday lately, some members of the family were indisposed and could not fully enjoy the good times with others. You should have seen the care and concern of all the others for them. Even the little children gathered around and offered some help, remedy or other. Some kept praying for their speedy recovery. That is the way we treat and take care of the dear ones we love.

How then could a loving heavenly Father God, cause us to suffer or allow us to suffer? It is a question that will never find an answer as long as we are in this world cursed by sin and its consequences! Many have sought diligently for an answer in their interminable suffering. But found none. Many have asked like the Lord Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt27.46). He didn’t get an answer and so we too won’t.

But we too like Jesus, the Son of God, will know the truth of God’s promise, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you”. Like Jesus we will have angels to minister to our needs, physically and spiritually (Heb 1.14). We will have the Holy Spirit, our comforter with us and in us, the Spirit that abides in us forever (John 14.16).

When you and I pass though ‘the waters and fire’ we may cry out and we may be delivered from our troubles and trails by our loving Almighty Father in heaven. If not, you can be sure of one thing which King David experienced and many believers too through the centuries - the unfailing promise of God, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you”. That is why David was able to pen those beautiful words in the Shepherd Psalm, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psa 23.4).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I believe with King David, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Amen.