I think one of the biggest struggles for me through the years has been the tension between feeling and faith. Feelings can be tremendously deceptive. Just because it feels right, does not mean it is pleasing to God. Our feelings can bring doubt, fear, and confusion. Feelings are part of our physical humanity—both good and bad. In contrast, faith is a spiritual dynamic based on God’s Word, despite how we feel. Faith is an act of the will to trust God regardless of what is taking place in our lives. Imagine Elijah sitting alone in a dark cave feeling that he was the only prophet left in Israel. Only days prior he had the faith to call down fire on a water soaked alter in a challenge with the prophets of Baal. Now tired and afraid, his faith was weak and feelings controlled Elijah’s prospective. But note, the LORD did not abandon him. Rather, God spoke to Elijah in a gentle voice restoring his faith. Elijah did not have any physical evidence that anything had changed in Israel. Yet, by faith, Elijah left his cave and fulfilled God’s instruction.
Anyone having read the Sustaining Word over time has probably realized that I like understanding the meaning of individual words from the original languages of the Bible. One word in the New Testament that has always brought insight to me is the word translated ‘forsake’. The original word (exkatalapo) is actually a combination of three words; Ex means out; kata means down; lapo means abandon; or literally to abandon when down and out. This is the word used in Hebrews 13:5, He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you”. In the strongest possible term, He Himself, Jesus is saying He would never abandon us. I recently found another place this word is used. After hanging on the cross from morning until 3:00PM, Jesus cried out, “My god, My god, why have you forsaken (exkatalapo) Me?” (Mat 27:46). David originally penned these words in Psalm 22:1, probably during the time of his struggles with King Saul and David felt abandon by God.
So, did God abandon David? More important, did God abandon His Son. Jesus had told the disciples the night before His crucifixion, Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me (John 16:32). Jesus knew His disciples would abandon Him, but by faith, He believed the Father would be with Him. Jesus also knew the promise from Psalms 16:11, because you will not abandon my soul to hades, nor allow your holy one to undergo decay. No, the Father did not forsake (exkatalapo) Jesus. However, after hours of intense suffering on the cross, Jesus must have felt forsaken by even His Father. Just as it is clear, the LORD never forsook David, although he felt as if he were abandoned and alone.
I am sure other Christians, like me, at some time have felt as if they were forsaken. I have even wondered if God was anywhere near. Was He hearing my prayers? Had I done something to make him leave? My feelings screamed, my god, my god, why have you forsaken (exkatalapo) me. This is how deceptive our feelings can be. This is when we must cling to His promises, I will never forsake you; I am with you always, even to the end of the age; Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Jesus understands by His own experience, the feeling of being forsaken. This is why He declared in strongest possible way, He would never forsake us.
Having faith in this promise does not mean we will suddenly feel His presence. Here is the tension between feeling and faith. We may feel He is not working in our desperate need; faith says He will supply all your needs. We may feel He is not hearing our pray; faith says He comes to the aid of our faintest cry; We may feel He does not understands our temptation; faith says He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (Heb. 2:18).
People will forsake us, that is just a fact of living in a sinful world. But like Jesus, we can declare by faith, I am not alone, because the Father is with me. In Paul’s last letter as a prisoner at Rome, he wrote, at my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me (2Ti 4:16, 17). No matter how you feel at this moment, you are not alone. God has not forsaken you. By faith, take hold of His promises. You may not feel any different, but be assured He is working in your behalf.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Friends, family, co-workers, even fellow Christians may forsake you. You may feel God is not near. You may be sitting in your dark cave. But your feelings do hinder God, and He said, I will never forsake you.