Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Have you ever reached a point where you felt totally abandoned and forgotten by God?
Of course, we know that God will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but sometimes it can surely feel that way!
During the darkest nights and most painful moments of navigating Zac’s illness and his constant medical care, there have certainly been times when I felt utterly abandoned by God.
Zac suffered so much that there have been instances I thought it would be better for God just to take him home because I couldn’t watch my son suffer anymore.
That’s why I can relate so well to the story of Hagar (found in Genesis 16 and Genesis 21).
Hagar was Sarah’s slave and had a son, Ishmael, with Sarah’s husband, Abraham, because Sarah herself couldn’t conceive. However, eventually Sarah and Abraham had a son of their own, Isaac, and when he was a few years older, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away.
They wandered in the desert until their supply of water ran out. In a heartbreaking scene, Hagar left Ishmael under one bush and then sat down a bowshot away because she couldn’t bear to watch her son die (Genesis 21:15-16).
Broken, rejected and absolutely hopeless, Hagar was unable to fix this for herself or her son. Hagar may have been rejected by those she should have been able to count on, her masters Abraham and Sarah, but God never abandoned her.
God assured her through an angel that He saw their pain. He reminded her of His promise to make Ishmael into a great nation and then met their need. God opened Hagar’s eyes, and there in front of her was a well of water (Genesis 21:17-19).
God may allow circumstances too hard for us to handle, so we realise He will never abandon us or forsake us.
God sees you! Just as He saw Hagar and Ishmael. He has not forgotten you!
