When You Feel Abandoned By God
Turn For Help, Part 1

Long enough, God - you've ignored me long enough. I've looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I've carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. I've thrown myself headlong into your arms - I'm celebrating your rescue. I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers.

Psalms 13:1-6 (MSG)

Distress centers on God: Where is God, Why doesn't God help?
Distress centers on Me: What's wrong with me, why am I still struggling this much?

God, why have you abandoned me? I have cried desperately for help, but still it does not come. During the day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer; I call at night, but get no rest.

Psalms 22:1-2 (TEV)

Throughout your life, you have experienced people who have gone away. When your friends leave you, you may have felt so alone. Unfortunately, when you go through struggles, and hard lessons of life, you may wonder if God has gone away too.

You have really good days when you feel God's protection and presence, leading and guiding each step and event.

You have really gray, dry days of spiritual barrenness and wonder if anything in your life is guided or planned. Does God really know or care?

Four Steps To Turn For Help

1. I need to make a decision to turn my will and life over to the care of God

God's name is a place of protection - good people can run there and be safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (MSG)

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.

Psalms 27:10 (HCSB)

2. I need to trust in God and stop depending on myself

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

God will never walk away from his people, never desert his precious people.

Psalms 94:14 (MSG)

3. I need to focus on God and put my struggles in his hands

David said in Psalm 13 "I've thrown myself headlong into your arms"

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27 (ESV)

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome.

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

4. I need to celebrate how God rescues and delivers me

I am the holy Lord God, the one who rescues you. For your own good, I teach you, and I lead you along the right path.

Isaiah 48:17 (CEV)

What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me? Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me.

Romans 7:24-25 (CEV)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

John 10:27-29 (NKJV)

Four Different Types of People in Distress and How God Rescues Them:

Wanderers

Some of you wandered for years in the desert, looking but not finding a good place to live, Half-starved and parched with thirst, staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion. Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God. He got you out in the nick of time; He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. He poured great draughts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.

Psalms 107:4-9 (MSG)

Prisoners

Some of you were locked in a dark cell, cruelly confined behind bars, Punished for defying God's Word, for turning your back on the High God's counsel - A hard sentence, and your hearts so heavy, and not a soul in sight to help. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He led you out of your dark, dark cell, broke open the jail and led you out. So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves; He shattered the heavy jailhouse doors, he snapped the prison bars like matchsticks!

Psalms 107:10-16 (MSG)

The sick

Some of you were sick because you'd lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin; You couldn't stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you'd be better off dead. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death.

Psalms 107:17-20 (MSG)

The storm-tossed

Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports. Out at sea you saw God in action, saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean: With a word he called up the wind - an ocean storm, towering waves! You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out; your hearts were stuck in your throats. You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk, you didn't know which end was up. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He quieted the wind down to a whisper, put a muzzle on all the big waves. And you were so glad when the storm died down, and he led you safely back to harbor.

Psalms 107:23-30 (MSG)

No matter how extreme you feel abandoned, God is able to break through to help you. He is loving and kind to those who are distressed.

God said, "I will never abandon you or leave you."

Hebrews 13:5 (GW)

Where do you feel abandoned? In a desert, prison, sickness, or storm. Take the four steps, one at a time and find God waiting for you.

Pray

God, I feel so alone. I turn my will and life into your care, I put my trust in you and all my struggles in your arms, and I celebrate your rescue and deliverance, In Jesus name, Amen