Losing Jesus

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

I ran across a aquaintance of mine this week who  was lamenting the fact that it seemed at times as if God had abandoned him in his times of need.  Granted, this person had abandonment issues from the begining due to childhood experiences with his parents which seem to have transitioned into his relationship with God.  I can understand to an extent the way he feels, as I've had the same feelings from time to time.  Does this verify his claim that God somehow takes a vacation day when we are going through our valleys?  Certainly not!  However, I hear more often than not from those who have felt abandoned by a loving, merciful God.  As I've said, I know this feeling all too well, as my parents were divorced when I was quite  young.  For myself, my issues of not having a father while growing up would often transfer to my relationship with God.  How could I trust a heavenly Father who would certainly eventually leave me as my earth bound father had?  To me, the word "Father" meant only one thing, and that was abandonmennt.  It seemed confusing to me that God would go through all that trouble of saving me only to forget about me.  Now, in my defense, my relationship with Jesus at this point was not exactly where it is today.  There is no worse feeling for a child than to feel as if anyone and everyone of importance in their life will eventually leave them.  Of ccourse, today I know this not to be true, but troubling circumstances can bring back some pretty bad thoughts long ago put away.

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In  my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know."  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"  Jesus said to Him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."  Philip said to Him,"Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'show us the Father'?  "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the father in Me?  The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the works themselves."
John 14: 1-11 NKJV

I remember reading the scriptures in John 14 and first recognizing the fact that there is a definite connection between God and Jesus.  For up until then Jesus was simply the Son of God, seperate but part of the same team.  However, as we are told in John here in John 14, Jesus makes the claim that if we hhave seen Him, then we have seen the Father as well.  I don't feel too cheated here, for even Philip had trouble recognizing this fact.  There are plenty of scriptures which we can turn to to see the indwelling of Jesus within us {Galations 2:20,  John 17:20-24}.  More than a few of these I have referenced in my postings.  So, if we indeed have the indwelling of Christ in us, are we truly abandoned as we sometimes may feel?  Certainly not!  My only explanation to this is that those dark places our minds take us too in bad situations can take us to some pretty bad feelings.  I don't feel guilty for feeling as if Jesus has abandoned me in my time of need, because in my heart I know of the great love He had for me to give Himself in my place.  It is Jesus who will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in Him.

~Scott~