There was a man who had spent two years in Vietnam and had barely escaped with his life. He spent all that time suffering in the most miserable conditions imaginable. But when asked what the worse thing he had ever suffered during his lifetime, he said this:
“I’ve raised my granddaughter for most of her life. Her father moved to another state and abandoned her when she was only a few months old. Due to a mental condition, her mother was unable to safely care for her. One time when she was about three years old, her mother took her from us to live with her and an excessively abusive man. We went to visit her in another city, and when we were about to leave, she began hysterically crying, reaching her arms out to me begging, “Papaw, please don’t ‘left’ me!!!”
There was nothing I could do. Her mother insisted she stay with her. My wife and I cried all the way home, and many nights afterwards we would take turns staying up all night, crying out to God in prayer. I would have to say THAT was the worse pain I’ve ever suffered. When your (grand) child is hurting and wants to be with you and you are forced to forsake them…that is real suffering.
There is a happy side to my story, however. Shortly after that, she came to live with us again and we still have her. She is well adjusted and is a perfect student in honors classes. There was another Father who had to leave His Son for a brief period of time. His son cried out to Him from the cross, ‘My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?!’ I think I know a little about what God the Father felt at that moment when His Son Jesus needed Him, but He had to depart as Jesus took our sins upon Himself. Sin causes so much pain.”
Perhaps it was that brief moment that Jesus knew that He would be separated from His father that caused Him to say these things to comfort us, as is recorded by the writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 13:5 KJ (Emphasis mine) ” Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, I will NEVER LEAVE THEE, nor forsake thee.”
Though earthly loved ones may abandon us or leave us, God will not, no matter what the circumstances.
Psalms 27:9,10 LB (Written by David) “Oh, do not hide yourself when I am trying to find you. Do not angrily reject your servant. You have been my help in all my trials before; don’t leave me now. Don’t forsake me, O God of my salvation. For if my father and mother should abandon me, you would welcome and comfort me.”
Some of you who are lonely and fatherless may not have a Papaw that loves you and will care for you. Or you may have been widowed and and left alone, but we all have a Father that loves us, and who is there for us.
Psalms 68:5,6b “He is a father to the fatherless; He gives justice to the widows, for He is holy. He gives families to the lonely…”
Father, thank You for ALWAYS being there. Thank You for suffering as You offered Your Son, Jesus, for our sins. Your heart must have broken when You could not reach down to Him when He cried out to You! Thank You that when the fatherless cry out to You, You will be their Father…You will watch over them and meet their every need. I praise You and thank You for being my Father and placing me into the family of God, with Jesus as my Brother, who will stick closer to me than any earthly brother. I pray today for those who are fatherless and lonely, and I ask that the Holy Spirit will show them that they DO have a Father who loves them very much. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Rooted and grounded in the love of Christ Jesus,
Marlene JuHaros, TexasSower@aol.com
“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow–perhaps it all will.” Eccl. 11:6 TexasSower@prayervine.org (or) TexasSower@aol.com Web page… www.prayervine.org