Have You Ever Been Forsaken?

I want to begin by saying that sometimes it is necessary for your heart or mine to be made sorrowful before we can receive God’s blessings. This lesson may stir up sorrow in your heart initially, but I pray that it will be a blessing to you in the end. There is such a thing as godly sorrow.

God can use sorrow to turn your heart toward Him:

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

II Corinthians 7:9

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

As strange as it may seem, sorrow might just be the best guide to lead you to laughter and joy:

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Luke 6:21

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

To be forsaken is a very sorrowful thing. To be forsaken is to be left behind and alone, to be deserted….abandoned. Have you ever been forsaken? Most if not all of us have experienced the pain of being forsaken in one way or another. It is important to understand that many godly people have been forsaken by others. Let’s look at two examples:

Joseph was forsaken by his own brothers:

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

Genesis 37:23-24

The apostle Paul, near the end of his ministry was forsaken by others:

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

II Timothy 4:16

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

II Timothy 4:10

Jesus, God in the flesh, is the ultimate example of one who was forsaken:

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Matthew 26:55-56

Not only was he forsaken by men, but because he loved you and “became sin” for you, he was forsaken for a period of time by his own Father:

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Matthew 27:46

Have you ever been forsaken? It is a terrible thing, is it not? But no one has ever been forsaken like Jesus Christ was. Therefore, he is able to help you who have been forsaken.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Psalm 27:10

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Isaiah 41:17

If you have never received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour then God is begging you to do so. You can then be assured of God’s wonderful promise below:

Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said,

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5