Abandoned

I believe rejection is painful, but abandonment from one`s parents is the deepest pain of all. Shadrach Maloka was abandoned as a two week old baby by his 14 year old mother, who left him to drown in a toilet. By God’s grace he was rescued and taken to hospital, but never knew who his parents were.

One day he read Psalm 27:10 to Stephen Lungu, who had been abandoned by his mother at the age of 6; ‘For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in’ (Psalm‬ 27:10‬).‬‬

He explained it was the promise of God and His Son Jesus to those who had been unwanted by their mothers and fathers. There was an amazing transformation in Stephen`s life. Stephen was a homeless, violent, gang leader, who couldn’t read or write, but he was able to become a powerful, international evangelist. (Stephen published his story ‘Out of the Black Shadows’ in 2001).

Experience of ministering to many hurting people shows that a baby or young child who is abandoned concludes “It must be my fault. I`m so bad that no one wants me". A child is unable to reason that a parent is too ill or confused to look after him. He doesn’t know the tragedy of death or other circumstances beyond human control. The sense of unworthiness and guilt becomes secretly embedded in the child`s spirit.

The whole of Psalm 27, written by King David, gives God`s people a lifeline in times of trouble and insecurity. We find great encouragement in the following verses: ‘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?’ (verse 1); `For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock` (verse 5); `I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!` (Verses 13-14‬).‬‬‬‬

Some of us haven’t experienced abandonment from parents, but we may struggle with various rejection issues from early childhood. Deep inner healing comes from finding we can forgive our earthly parents for what they have done, or not done, and in expressing our hurt and pain to Jesus.

Our heavenly Father is kind and loving and wants to pour His love and comfort into all the wounds we have carried. He will ‘take us in’. He will ‘lift us high upon a rock’ and establish us in a transformed life, according to His perfect plans for us.

Prayer: Thank You, loving heavenly Father, that You are the perfect parent and that You draw us close to You. You heal our wounds, and You are our light and salvation. You are the stronghold of our life, and You hide us in Your shelter. We trust in You, and wait for You. Amen.