Abandonment can be one of our most hurtful experiences, especially early in life.
When a child either perceives they are abandoned or actually is abandoned by one or both parents they may never feel wanted or secure again. Their sense of belonging can be destroyed. Many of us grow into adulthood living as the abandoned child we feel we are. It can take a long time to be healed from the effects of abandonment, unless God enters our life’s story.
The God of Jesus Christ is omniscient; having infinite knowledge, knowing all things. Explore 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 147:5, Jeremiah 1:5, Hebrews 4:13, and 1 John 3:20.
He is also omnipresent, present in all places at the same time. “There are not parts of Him spread out in every location. Rather, everything is immediately in His presence. This should be a constant source of comfort, His presence may be experienced at any time or any place. No one can escape God’s notice.” (www.blueletterbible.org) Explore Psalms 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23, 24, Proverbs 15:3, and Hebrews 13:5.
So what does this conclude?
We are never unknown, unseen, or abandoned by God. He is always working to meet our every need. He always pursues us because He greatly desires that we be in a relationship with Him. He adopts us into His family through our belief and faith in Jesus Christ.
May the following prayer from the word of God help you find comfort and heal.
(From Lesson 23, Walking the 12 Steps with Jesus Christ)
You, O God, are a father of the fatherless, a judge and protector of widows. You have now placed me in a family, Your body, Your church, for all of the times that I have felt and still feel lonely, deserted, or ruined. (Psalm 68:5-6)
You are the helper to the fatherless, and whether I truly may have been forgotten and abandoned by my mother and/or my father or if I only perceive and feel that I was forgotten and abandoned by my mother and/or my father, (Psalm 10:14, Psalm 27:10) I now trust that You are able to now take me up, and adopt me as Your very own, You offer me adoption through my belief in, my trust in, and my reliance on Your Son Jesus. (John 1:12, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 2:19)
I thank You, God, that You have given me the opportunity to be led by Your Spirit and to be Your child. Help me believe, trust, and feel how dearly You love me. Thank you, God, that the Spirit I receive from You is not a spirit of slavery that puts and keeps me in bondage to fear—no! You have given me the spirit of adoption to receive—by which I may cry Father! Father! (Romans 8:14-16, Galatians 4:4-6)
Show me, help me to remember all those whom you have placed in and throughout my life to help and to care for me when I was in pain, sorrow, or need (James 1:27)—even if it seemed they were there by “chance” and just for an instant, for I now know that there is no chance with You because Your eyes are in every place, and I have never been hidden from Your sight because You fill the heavens and the earth. (Psalm 139:1-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Proverbs 15:3, Hebrews 4:13)
You tell me in Your word that You will not in any way fail me, nor give me up, nor leave me without support, You will not, You will not, You will not in any degree leave me helpless nor forget me nor let me down—You will not relax Your hold on me. (Hebrews 13:5)
Therefore, I desire that my mind, my will, and my emotions be transformed now, by the power of Your Spirit comforting and encouraging me. I desire to confidently and boldly believe and to from now on confess that You are my helper (Psalm 121 all); I will no longer be afraid and I now choose to be more willing than ever to forgive all those whom I have felt abandoned by that I may truly be set free.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.