Devotion by Mike Geiger originally published: November 1, 2012 on www.whataboutjesus.com
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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.
Psalm 22:1-2
Where’s God when I need him most?
After years of addiction to alcohol, angry outbursts at his wife, and a strained relationship with his teenage daughter, John felt all alone. He realized what his actions had created. He intentionalized returning to church, building his faith and trying to repair relationships. But when challenges continued and progress seemed non-existent, he questioned, “God where are you?”
If each of you would insert your own story and your own situation, you have probably have felt at times, “God has forsaken me.” It’s not a pleasant feeling to have and certainly a real place we don’t want to be…apart from God.
It’s certainly a status we deserve. Isaiah wrote, “Your sins have separated you from your God” (Isaiah 59:2) God hates sin. It creates a barrier of guilt and shame and certainly deserves the punishment from God. Yet, while he has every right to leave us to our sin and its consequences, he chose instead to forsake his Son. As he suffered on the cross the sky turned dark and Jesus cried out these words from Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) God had forsaken his Son because of our sin.
The result? God loves to be with us and promises to be with us through the challenges and joys of life. The reality is like the poem “Footprints” indicates:
Why, when I needed you most,
Have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you only see one set of footprints,
My child, is when I carried you.”
Where is God when you need him most? Right beside you.
PRAYER: Lord, there are times when I feel alone and forsaken by you. Lead me to realize that I forsake you all too often. Thank you for forsaking your Son so that I would never fear you forsaking me but enjoy your presence now and into eternity.