There is a seventeen-year age gap between my youngest brother and me. My mom had in me a built-in babysitter and so, my baby sibling and I became very close. However, a year later, when the time came for me to leave home, my brother, who had become very attached to me, found it hard to let me go. Years later, due to the fact that my family was serving in a church in Mexico, I decided to return to my parent’s home during my pregnancy to receive maternity care in the States. My brother, now grown, approached me one day and told me how much he enjoyed having me home again, but wasn’t sure he could handle it if I abandoned him again! He was joking, of course, as he went on to tell me that he had suffered “abandonment issues� and it was all my fault!

This cute little analogy led me to think of real “abandonment issues,� like those our Savior faced on the cross. As he hung there feeling hurt and alone, Jesus lifted His eyes to the sky and yelled out to His Heavenly Father, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?� Those words were filled with anguish at the thought that He must die alone for the Salvation of all mankind. He felt abandoned, forsaken; those who, only a week ago, had sung His praises, now all turned their backs on Him. Even God felt unreachable.

In Psalm 22, David also felt the bitter anguish of abandonment. Feeling as though God was far from him, David cried out: “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.� (Ps. 22:2) But by the end of the chapter, David comes to the realization that God had always been there and he changes his tune a bit. He begins to point out God’s goodness and eventually finds himself praising the God who is King over all the nations. (v.28) David’s honest cry of abandonment was not the end of the story, just as Jesus’ death on the cross was not the end of His story. And praise the Lord for that! Because, just like my brother can always count on me, even when I am far, we can rely on the Lord and live with the assurance that He is always with us! No abandonment issues here! They were resolved the day our Lord rose from the grave. What a Glorious Day!

Suggested Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me so much that you allowed your Son to give His life for me. Thank you for being so good that even when I am far from You, Your Spirit is always with me. Thank you for being so mighty that, even in death, You rose victorious! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. Psalm 22:1a & 26b (ESV).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.