Biblical Answer

The Feeling of Abandonment by God

Feeling abandoned by God is a common experience for many people, especially when faced with difficult circumstances or prolonged suffering. This feeling can stem from a lack of understanding of God's sovereignty and His desire to be present in our lives. The Bible teaches that God is always seeking us, and it is we who often block our access to Him (Psalm 119:176). When we focus on the roadblocks in our lives, we miss seeing the road to God. We might even derive a perverse satisfaction from considering the means of despair, which is a form of spiritual suicide (Psalm 38:18).

The Root Causes of Feeling Abandoned

The root causes of feeling abandoned by God can be traced to our own sinful nature. We often put our trust in things other than Christ, such as worldly opinion or our own strength, which leads to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. We might feel that God has left us high and dry, but in reality, He has a particular interest in those who have been sinned against, neglected, or abandoned (Jeremiah 23:1-8). We are His ambassadors, and He has a purpose in our lives. However, we often neglect to focus our eyes on Him, and instead, rely on worldly opinion. This neglect leads to feelings of distrust, fear, or depression.

The Way Forward

To move forward and break free from feelings of abandonment, we must surrender ourselves to God and trust in His sovereignty. We must recognize the things we are putting ahead of God and confront our reservations. Seeking after God is more important and satisfying than finding short-term happiness in worldly things. Suffering encourages us to lean on God and develop character. When we totally abandon ourselves to God, He immediately says to us, "I will give your life to you as a prize." The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything – they have not been given their life as a prize. We must shift our focus from the roadblocks in our lives to the road to God, and trust that He will lead us out of our struggles. J.I. Packer's words remind us that "He knows the way He taketh, even if for the moment we do not." Our whole perspective changes when, finding ourselves in the midst of struggles, we look up to God and trust in His sovereignty.