Un-Abandoned

Un-Abandoned

Is un-abandoned even an English word? But am sure in a way you understand what am talking about.. right? 

I jot these lines after an 87yrs young woman said some words to me last night that will have a profound and lasting impact in me.  She said this: “I have never felt abandoned by Christ, I have never felt abandoned by God even when things have gone very bad. I also learnt that whenever I prayed about something and I did not get it, God usually had a better plan, far much greater than my demands.”  Mind you she said this totally out of no context.  I asked her to repeat what she had just said and she said the same words.  I told her that she had just preached to me and challenged me in a great way because just like the Israelites, and from time to time I get into an emotional roller-coaster of feeling unloved whenever my prayers are not answered as fast as I want.  I cry and weep while lamenting in a way I think even angels cry with me.  I ask God questions which usually do not have immediate answers but in the end I end up feeling like a spoiled brat once the emotional storm calms down and my eyes are able to focus on the goodness of God in my past and present.  Do you ever feel that way too? I don’t know if like me, when you read the bible and see this word “righteousness”,  you feel totally unworthy because you have not attained that righteousness that is demanded of us.  I feel like my unrighteousness is what stands between me and God’s favor, blessing and grace. It feels like I am so dirty and I will never be worthy of getting what others get. But the spirit has a way of bringing me back to my senses.

2  Corinthians 5:21 ” For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. 

This instantly reminds me that my transgressions, weaknesses and sins are forgiven not because of my deeds but because of the works of Jesus on that cross.  When He said “it is finished”, the powers of darkness were defeated for eternity and no power in hell and no schemes of man will ever remove me from His hands. Jesus paid for my sins of yesterday, today and tomorrow in full.  Jesus became the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sin.  

I decided to meditate over these words.  The truth is that it has not been because I am very smart that I have managed to survive this far. I have reminded myself that I when I was conceived in my mother’s womb, the forces against my life worked day and night to kill me so I don’t see the light of day but Abba Father, the one and only true living God held me in there for 9 months and I was born a beautiful baby girl with ten toes and ten fingers.  He is the same faithful Keeper that has held me up for 48yrs.  Even though I have walked through the shadow of the valley of death many times, He continues to rescue me and fought for me. I remember Joesl Osteen’s sermon from Psalm 103:2–4 “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” Joel said, “When you look back over your life, consider some of the things you’ve faced that at the time, you didn’t think you could make it through. You didn’t see a way, but God turned it around. He gave you strength to go on. That wasn’t a coincidence. It was the hand of God.” These words, enjoined with those of the 87yrs young woman, I feel more confident that this cloud will pass for my God of the mountains is still the God of the valley.  I tell myself to stand still and know that He is God, and to trust Him in the way a child trusts in the power and love of it’s mother.  I preach to myself and tell me to never forget what God has done for me in the past.  He will not abandon me now!! He is a promise keeper, and He never changes His mind mid way.  He will never lie for He is not man.  I encourage myself with the truth that He never sleeps nor does He slumber and He still has great plans for me.   

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

If you are in that valley right now, stand up for Jesus and be a strong soldier.  The one who leads the army is a powerful warrior who sees from up on high.  He knows when we are afraid and with His staff He comforts us.  If you are at that point where your trial or challenge looks like it has come to finish you, and you feel you may not come out of this alive, I kid you not, God is working out a way.  He is the way maker. He is busy on an earth mover clearing the bushes and flattening the ground for you to walk on.  He is making bridges for you to cross over to the other side.  He has not forgotten you.  He has not abandoned you!!.  Do not listen to the voices of the waves and storms, but keep your ears tuned to the soothing voice of Jesus out Brother and Savior.  He will not bring you this far only to turn His back on you.  He will always shine His face upon you. Do not let sin bring doubt into your heart, but stay focused on His kindness and love and you will enjoy His goodness in this land of the living.  I will leave you with these words from a song my high school principal taught us.  My sister Janet and I love to sing it and it is quite powerful…..

He who would valiant be ‘gainst all disaster
Let him in constancy follow the Master
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim