Abandonment
Scripture:
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Psalm 94:14
For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
Reflection:
Today I choose to fast from the wound of abandonment.
Have you ever been lost by yourself? Maybe as a child you were separated from your family in a store or at a park. Or maybe when you were older and you got lost on the road or in the woods. Or maybe you’ve just felt lost in the face of pain and heartbreak - the death of a loved one, broken family relationships, job loss. Whatever the situation, being lost and experiencing loss can cause us to feel alone, isolated, afraid and unprotected. And these feelings can give rise to the wound of abandonment.
Although it’s not always obvious, abandonment can lead to pride by causing us to either strive for self-sufficiency or to require others to be hyperloyal to us out of fear of being abandoned once again. The good news is that God can meet us in that wound and heal it. As we read in the Scripture passages above, God promises that he will never abandon us. And if we allow it, God’s constant presence and care can lead us from isolation into love.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
When have I experienced feelings of isolation or abandonment? How has that experience shaped my life today?
How does it feel to know that God will never abandon me?
Prayer:
Share your thoughts and feelings with God in prayer. Ask God to help you heal from past or present wounds of abandonment. Thank God for his promise to always be with you. Be honest with God if you are struggling to believe that God cares and is with you.
If you would like someone to pray with you, please text 1-833-639-5122
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
