Brianne Leckness sat on the steps of a church, abandoned by her mom and step-dad. Brianne was 3 years old. Her parents had pinned a note on her shirt: “Please take care of her. We can’t any longer.” Passed from foster home to foster home, Brianne grew up the best she could. Brianne remembers how, on her 18th birthday, her mother “blew into town [and] wanted us to go on The Montel Williams Show and say how she really never wanted to give me up.” But Brianne knew the obvious truth: Her mother hadn’t wanted her.
Such a story rips into our heart. It’s impossible to imagine such callous desertion. Thankfully, few of us have faced this kind of abusive abandonment. We have all, however, felt the sting of rejection. We have all, in our own way, been left alone. A divorce leaves us without a parent. A misunderstanding leaves us without a friend. An economic downturn leaves us without a job. Whatever the trouble, the result is the same: We feel alone.
When we’re in this place, God’s bold words echo with hope and perfect clarity: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (v.5). This straightforward assertion does not mean that our human pain immediately dissolves or that we downplay the seriousness of others’ neglect. What it does mean, however, is that God’s presence can heal our most lonely places (v.6). God’s love is the love we are most desperate for, and God’s love will never wane. It will never run thin. God’s love will always—always—be with us.
When God says He will not “fail” us, He promises that He will never abandon or neglect those He loves. God’s love will never let us go, never leave us to ourselves.
More:
• Psalm 121
• Isaiah 41:10
• Romans 8:31-32
Next:
When have you felt most abandoned? What does it mean for you to know that God promises never to fail or abandon you?
Chew Keng Sheng on October 5, 2009 at 10:52 am
Thank you for this piece of devotion.
Hebrews 13:5 indeed is a timely reminder to myself:
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have.
For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”*
In other words, a declaration that God is my enough. He is my rich resource. He is my source of strength.
Yet, in this age, where we are constantly being bombarded with choices, temptations are everywhere and we can easily drawn away. It has to be a daily deliberate decision on our part to remind ourselves – God the enough!
I find that taking short “breaks”, distancing myself from what I am engrossed in, constantly asking myself “Why am I doing this?” is a good way for me to re-focus myself and re-aligning my priorities.
mmmaine17 on October 5, 2009 at 6:21 pm
This is exactly what i needed today. Couldn’t ask for more, God’s love is indeed unfailing. . .
mikan14 on October 9, 2009 at 1:22 pm
We have been devastated by a typhoon, and it left destroyed lives and homes and properties, including ours. I’ve also felt loneliness and depression because of what had happened to us. But I thank God because He continually opens my eyes, and see His great purpose in everything. Indeed He has a purpose for everything under heaven. I’ve been reminded of Isaiah 43, “I will be with you…” During the flood, He didn’t leave us. He will never leave us. The Lord is forever faithful! 🙂
winn collier on October 9, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Mikan, thank you for sharing your struggles. I pray God’s mercy and kindness over you and your family.
JanSullivan on October 21, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I write Christian Fiction for teens and my latest book is called “Never Alone.” Part of my desire is to teach teens that with Christ, you are never alone. The Body of Christ is part of that. No matter what you are going through, there are always people around that are being used by Christ to lift you up and support you through any struggle you might be facing.
Thank you for your post.