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Keeping the Flame When You Feel Forsaken


Our faith walk as Christians comes easy when we experience mountaintop experiences. As we ascend Mt. Sinai and   Zion, the sheer intensity of God’s presence combined with deep revelation makes for a brazer level of faith. But when we are forced to go to Mt. Olivet and Calvary we can find Christ’s words echoed in our own, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will,” (Matthew 26:39) and “My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). The sparkle of that brazer goes dim, like a candle as we grapple with the Golgotha. 

Jesus our Lord in the distress of the harrowing work at His arrest and Crucifixion  said “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46) but then said “It is Finished.” (John 19:30). He meant of course that He had finished the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the world, but I argue there is another message. I believe our Lord and God was trying fo say when you feel like “My God why have you forsaken me?” that you must stand firm until “It is finished.” Hence the words of the apostle Paul, “I hVe fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).  

It is easy to run the race when God feels near and His power manifests like Pillars of Fire. The test is to keep the Testimony of Jesus (Revelation 14:12) when we are in the tempest. When tribulation besets us like many troops, our trust can feel weak and our words in despair like our Lord in distress, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:49). And yet we know as a promise that He shall never abandon us, “teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world,” (Matthew 28:20 CEV) and “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 NIV). Like our Lord on the cross, we feel abandoned but we never are no matter how deafening the quiet may be. 


We can take solace in that our God in the flesh felt the pang of the valley, the sensation of loneliness and shadow of death. And yet we should in dark nights of the soul, press onwards “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus: press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14 ESV and NLT). The antidote is not denial of the dry spells and dark nights or seasons of silence,  but to cry out to the Lord and tell Him how you feel, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” while at the same time holding in your heart the truth that “I AM with you always, even until the End of the Ages.” (Matthew 28:20). Amen. 

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