Matthew 27:45-46   From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

This verse has been on my mind for a couple weeks along with this verse . . .

Hebrews 13:5 “Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ”

I’ve been deeply touched these last few weeks by the truth that Jesus was rejected so I could be accepted. When Jesus bore the sin of the world, Father God had to turn away, as He is a Holy God and sin cannot be in His presence. Jesus took the sin of the world for us and bore the “forsaking” of His Father so that we could have Hebrews 13 – “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” 

When we surrender our life to the Lordship of Jesus, this is our promise. When God looks at me, he sees Jesus, the pure and sinless one – who became the atonement for my sin.

When we look at the brokenness of the world around us and those who are suffering, at times it can feel overwhelming; but this is a simple promise for us to hold on to . . . God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

The Psalmist says in Psalms 27:10 “Though my father and mother forsake (abandon) me, the Lord will receive me (take me in – hold me close).”

Next time we think about all that Jesus purchased for us as well as those we minister to in missions, in His death and resurrection (freedom from sin, sickness, poverty, etc.) we can include a life that is never abandoned by God. In this, we can rest.

Written by: Nita Weldon