Abandoned but not forsaken
by Paul Griffin
Over the past thirty-three years, many thousands of guests have attended Healing Retreats at Ellel Ministries centres. Each guest has come with their own unique combination of physical, emotional and spiritual issues and presenting symptoms. Many carry the inner scars and wounds from severe abuse, betrayal or rejection. As a consequence, they often feel isolated, alone or abandoned. They may even feel that God has also abandoned or forsaken them.
When welcoming guests to a healing retreat, I`ve often reminded them of the promise we find in Psalm 9:10: ‘Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.’ This wonderful promise of God links three important words concerning our relationship with God – seeking Him, knowing Him, and trusting Him.
God has placed within the heart of every individual a desire for relationship with something or someone greater than themselves. Sadly, many, in trying to satisfy this inborn desire, have been led into idolatry and deception. Moses addressing the Israelites says this: ‘There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul’ (Deuteronomy 4:28-29).
Isaiah encourages us to seek God with these words: ‘Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near’ (Isaiah 55:6). When we sincerely seek God, we will find Him. Jesus reiterates this promise when He declares, ‘For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened’ (Luke 11:10).
When we seek God, we deepen our knowledge of Him. We discover more of His character and His nature, as summed up in some of the names given to God in the Bible. We discover that God is indeed our healer, our saviour, our redeemer and our protector. He is the alpha and the omega and loves us so much that He gave His only son.
As we seek God and know Him more, we realise that we can trust Him. We realise that He is loving, caring and faithful and that He wants the very best for us. Like the psalmist, we can conclude and encourage ourselves that, though we may have been abandoned by others, God will never abandon nor forsake us and that He will meet us at our point of need.
Prayer: ‘Thank You, Lord, that Your word says that when we seek You, we will find You. Thank You that You will never abandon or forsake us. Lord, when I am struggling or feeling a long way away from Your presence, remind me of this promise and help me to keep my eyes on You and trust in You.’
Paul Griffin Paul spent 20 years working as a chemical engineer for an oil company in South Africa, the Middle East and Japan prior to going to Bible College. Paul and his wife Liz have been involved with Ellel since 1991 and are associate teachers as well as being authors of the books ‘Anger …How do you Handle it?’ and ‘Hope and Healing for the Abused.’
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