Feeling Abandoned by God?

Have you ever felt abandoned by someone?  What about God?  If you're feeling abandoned by God, it's time to look inside your heart.

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Certainly, people abandon each other all the time.  Unfortunately, that's human nature.  We'd like to think people are dedicated to relationships but our culture makes clear that relational abandonment is not only common but expected.  So what about God?  Does God abandon us?

The answer is no, God doesn't abandon us.  God is not like us.  However, there are two factors that can make us feel abandoned by God.  Both of which are heart issues:

1. We have not, truly, believed in Jesus and have not received the Holy Spirit.
2. God hasn't abandoned us, we've abandoned Him.

God makes this promise to those who call upon Him: For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."-Romans 10:13 ESV  If you call on the name of Jesus and put your faith and trust in Him, you will be saved!  It really is that easy.  Living it is a different story.  That is why God gives us His Holy Spirit: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." -Acts 1:8  So when we believe in Jesus, God gives us His Spirit to lead us into understanding the ways of God.  We surrender our will to His will.  It's all about Him, not us!  Understanding this truth is the first step to healing the abandoned heart.

If Jesus is your Savior and you still feel abandoned, it's time to look deeper into your heart.  Look at this verse from 2 Chronicles 30

10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord. -2 Chronicles 30:10-12 ESV

In this short snippet of a larger story, King Hezekiah  sent messengers (couriers) out to all the cities in the Kingdom.  His purpose was to bring people back to Jerusalem that they might celebrate the passover. (A party remembering God's grace that saved them from slavery in Egypt.)  As you read in the story, only a few humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.  The rest mocked, laughed and scorned them.

Notice, though, what God does for those who listen to His message.  God put His hand on His people and gave them one heart. (Blessing and unity.)  In other words, God aligned the people with His heart because it was done according to His word.  So, if you're a believer and find yourself feeling abandoned by God, humble yourself and pray because God never abandons us, we abandon, laugh, scorn, and sometimes mock Him.  (This happens, a lot, when He calls us to do something we really don't want to do or when something tragic happens that we have no control over...)  He is still God and He is still in control.

Be encouraged because whether you're a believer or not: He is actually not far from each one of us and, once found, will never leave us forsake us! (Acts 17:27b and Hebrews 13:5b)  We must make sure, if we put our faith in Him, we don't forsake Him even when we don't understand!  Even if we have abandoned God, He is still near to us.  All we have to do is call on His powerful name! (Acts 1:8)


If we feel abandoned by God, it's because our hearts aren't aligned with His.

God never abandons us!