“Has God Abandoned Me?” (12 Promises From God)
I sit in the canyon where the granite is ribboned with a thousand shades of earthy beige. I’ve come to this canyon to find answers and seek direction for my life. Feeling alone and uncertain, I whisper painful words to the wild Wyoming sky: “Has God abandoned me?”
I’ve endured some rough years, and I can’t help but wonder what God thinks about my life.
Is he looking at me with folded arms and a disappointed scowl on his face?
Is he rolling his eyes and writing me off?
I surely deserve to be written off. I’ve been living for myself and not for him. From where I’m sitting in this valley, he feels about a million miles away.
The Bible I keep on my nightstand says he is everywhere at all times, but it sure doesn’t feel like it today.
Has God Abandoned Me in My Pain?
I leaf through the pages of the Bible on my lap. I’m not sure why I brought it with me. Maybe I hoped God would show up and speak to me through these words.
My skimming leads me to a familiar passage of Scripture.
It’s the story of the woman caught in adultery in the eighth chapter of John’s Gospel. She’s been dragged into the middle of a vast circle of religious people who are about to stone her to death as the penalty for her sins.
Just as they’re about to start throwing stones, Jesus arrives on the scene.
He bends down and begins writing in the dirt. The Bible doesn’t tell us what he wrote. I wonder if that’s because his intention was deeper than words. Maybe, he wanted to show us he’s not afraid to stoop low into our dirtiest messes and get our dirt on his hands.
What happens next touches my heart almost as deeply as Jesus’ willingness to step into the messy middle of the woman’s lowest moment.
Jesus invites the onlookers to go ahead and throw their stones, but only if they are without sins.
One at a time, the crowd disperses.
Let’s not miss this: Jesus doesn’t condemn the woman; he defends her.
Friend, even if it feels like God has abandoned you, he has not left your side. We’ll get back to the story of the forsaken woman at the end of this post. First, let’s look at some more biblical truths that answer the question, “Has God abandoned me?”
Has God Abandoned Me? 12 Bible Verses
1. Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ESV
God is with you, and he will uphold you and give you strength.
He will not abandon you, and he is at your side no matter what you face.
2. Psalm 23:4
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.
Even in the darkest valleys, God is with us.
He comforts us and protects us. Nothing reaches us without passing through him first.
Cling to this verse if you feel alone and forgotten today. God is with you.
3. 1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
If you have decided to follow Jesus, you can never lose his love. He is with you. More than just that, he dwells within you.
4. Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
This is a message for all of God’s children.
Jesus pursues us. He wants a relationship with all of his children. Have you responded to him as he knocks at the door of your heart?
5. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
God is with you, and he wants to direct your life. Find his direction by asking him to help you trust him more, seeking his wisdom instead of relying on human understanding, and looking to him always. He will guide you.
6. Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
God’s presence is like a light for our paths. Trust that because God is with you, you don’t need to live in fear.
7. Deuteronomy 31:8
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
This verse is a wonderful promise. God will never leave you or forsake you.
I encourage you to memorize this verse and speak it when you feel alone and forsaken. God will never abandon you.
8. Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Are you facing a difficult situation in your life?
God is with you. He will help you cross the raging rivers of life and walk through every fire with you.
9. Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
These were God’s words to Joshua, and they are true for us today. God will never leave us.
10. Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Did you know that nothing can take God’s love from you: not your sin, spiritual powers, failure, or anything in this world.
Nothing you could do today could make God stop loving you.
11. Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
God is with you, and he delights in you like a good Dad delights in his children. He wants to quiet you with love. He sings over you.
12. Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Jesus’ last words before he ascended into heaven included the reminder that he would always be with his children.
Rest in this today. If you are not a follower of Jesus, why not surrender your life to him today?
3 Promises for When You Wonder, “Has God Abandoned Me?”
To drive this point home, let’s summarize these Scriptures into three main points about God being with us.
Point #1. God will never leave you.
We find this promise throughout Scripture.
Cling to this promise in Deuteronomy 31:8: “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” (NIV).
Don’t buy the lie that God has turned away from you. He promises never to leave his children. (Join me right here to read about the lie many of us believe in our suffering.)
Point #2. God will never stop loving you.
Additionally, nothing can take God’s love away from you.
You can’t mess up enough to lose God’s love.
Turn away from God, and he will still love you. In fact, he will pursue you. He will chase you down because he loves you relentlessly. He will watch for you to return to him like a father watching for his wayward child to return home.
And when he sees you coming, he won’t start with a lecture. He will throw off his coat and run to you. He’ll wrap his arms around you and say, “Welcome home!”
Nothing can separate you from God’s love: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NASB).
Point #3. God will defend you.
Let’s return to the story of the woman who was about to be stoned to death.
This woman reminds me of myself in my lowest, darkest moments. Caught in my poor decisions, I have often wondered whether Jesus has turned away from me.
Perhaps you have asked this same question.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus is doing while you are stuck in the sins you can’t seem to overcome?
This passage of Scripture offers ample evidence of his character: He isn’t rolling his eyes or folding his arms in condemnation. Instead, he is bending low to sit in your dirty mess. He is defending you. And he is waiting to pick you up and set you free.
Jesus ultimately forgives the woman and tells her to go and sin no more. He offers the same invitation to each of us.
God Will Never Abandon You
My summer in the granite canyon was two decades ago.
It took me years to climb out of my personal valley of hardship, and I’m still a work in progress. Throughout the years since I wondered if God had abandoned me, I’ve learned one life-changing truth: God is a relentlessly loving Father, and he will fight for us to the end.
If you are wondering if God has abandoned you, rest in this truth: God will never abandon you. He is pursuing you. The minute you decide to seek him with your whole heart, you will discover a Father who sets aside propriety and runs to you with open arms.
The minute you decide to seek him with your whole heart, you will discover a Father who sets aside propriety and runs to you with open arms. #GodsForgiveness #Jesus #Forgiven Share on XIf this discussion has encouraged you, I invite you to explore our library of devotional books and free eBooks below. Be blessed as you encounter the relentless love of God.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
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God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional for When You Wonder, “Has God Abandoned Me?”
I have a gift for you today. Hope for Hard Days is a free 10-day online devotional to help you hold onto hope when life is tough. You will find 10 readings to help you connect with God and claim his peace. Click here and I’ll send it to your email inbox today for free with promo code HOPE. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
