When we feel as if God abandoned us, it’s usually when everyone else is also rejecting us. We tend to associate the consequences of sin in our lives with God abandoning us, but let’s pause and think of the moment we acted in sin.
If we’re honest, at that moment, we didn’t really care if God was near or not because we were acting on our desires. Instead of caring if God was there, our flesh was enjoying itself, going against God’s will. In Hebrews 11:25, the Apostle Paul described sin as a “fleeting pleasure” because it’s a desire that grows within us – a desire to sin.
Before anyone knows what we did, we may experience shame and disappointment within ourselves. We may feel guilty for acting a certain way. Other words to describe the way we may feel are: dirty, unworthy, misunderstood, and indifferent.
Again, let’s refer to the Apostle Paul, who described perfectly how one feels when wrapped in sin.
“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
Romans 7:18-19
When we’ve come to that point, it’s because we are no longer walking in God’s law, now we are slaves to the law of sin.
While the feeling of abandonment from God may grow slowly as we continue to sin, it’s not until our sin is exposed, that we begin to feel the weight of sin that causes shame and guilt. We began to believe God is rejecting us.
We feel as if we can’t turn to anyone since our family and church members reject us, and God – why would he love us when we’ve failed him? – That’s what we think.
But it’s the contrary, the one who our heart thinks condemns us is the one who is waiting with open arms for us to come to repentance.
The one who we thought would be the most disappointed, is ready to deliver us.
God will not condemn us
Hear this powerful truth, God knew we would sin before we even committed the sin. Our sin comes as no surprise to Him. If he wanted to abandon us, he would have done it from the beginning, knowing we would always fall short.
Romans 3: 23-24 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
God does the opposite of abandoning us.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:17
What a powerful statement!
Our shame, guilt, and own condemnation is what make us feel as if God is also rejecting us. It’s the heaviness of sin that binds our minds into believing lies from the enemy. But through Jesus Christ, those lies are broken!
God does not reject a broken heart
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise,” says Psalm 51: 17.
When we come with genuine repentance to God, he will not reject us. Let those feelings of unworthiness serve as a sacrifice to God.
All the pain caused by sin, judgment, and regret is a sacrifice to God when we come before him with a broken spirit asking for another opportunity. Let’s receive his mercy through faith.
Remember, it’s through faith that we come out of this cycle of continuous sinning. We must have faith in the words we’re proclaiming: it’s through Jesus Christ that we are redeemed. That’s the power of the gospel.
It’s not by feelings or a ritual. If we continue feeling as if God has abandoned us, we must return to the truth God says in his word. The truth is that God does not abandon us.
If sin keeps us from turning to God, remember what 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
We can’t fall victim to sin; instead, we must choose daily to turn away from it. This will build endurance and help us as we continue to live for God.
When we choose to walk away from sin, we will be able to use these same tactics in the future, when we face a different temptation. Sin will no longer control our lives, and we will be able to live a life in abundance.
Prayer To Receive God’s Grace
Dear Lord,
This prayer is hard to do because I can’t feel you. It feels as if you’ve abandoned me. I feel alone, unworthy, and dirty because of the mess I’m in. Forgive me, Holy Spirit. Forgive me for going after my own desires. I repent from what I’ve done, and I ask you today to restore the joy of my salvation. Allow me to feel your peace once again. I ask you to break the heaviness of sin I feel in my body and mind, in your name, Jesus Christ. Only you have the power to do that. Help me walk in your law once again. Allow me to receive your grace through Jesus Christ. Thank you for sending your only son to die for my sins. Lord, give me the grace to walk in righteousness, so I can endure this race until the day you take me home. In the name of Jesus, Amen.