When You Feel Abandoned by God | Herbert Cooper

When You Feel Abandoned by God

Scripture References

Primary text

• Matthew 27:45
• Hebrews 13:5
• Luke 23:46

Other references

• Matthew 28:20
• Hebrews 4:15-16
• 1 Corinthians 13:12
• Hebrews 5:8
• 2 Corinthians 12:7
• Hebrews 12:2
• 2 Corinthians 1:20
• Romans 8:28
• Ephesians 3:20
• Philippians 4:19
• Lamentations 3:22-23

Overview

Jesus himself screamed, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”—showing that even the Son of God experienced feelings of abandonment. From that scene on the cross the message unfolds: when life hurts and God seems silent, there are right ways to respond that keep our hearts anchored in His presence, purpose, and promises.

Main Points

1. Remind yourself God loves you and is with you

• God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5 is emphatic—“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
• Presence, not absence, defines even our worst day; Matthew 28:20 affirms Jesus is with us “always.”
• Because He is near, we can carry every raw, honest question straight to His throne (Hebrews 4:15-16).
• Story: As a teenager the pastor woke up alone on Christmas after his mom, brother, and sister moved away. Holding a pillow and weeping, he thought, “God, where are You?”—a moment that taught him the ache of abandonment.
• God may answer with clarity, but He always meets us with mercy, peace, and strength.
• Your current chapter is not your whole story; we “see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12), yet God is still writing.

2. Turn “Why, God?” into “What, God?”

• Jesus stayed on the cross because of the “what”—the redemption of humanity (Hebrews 5:8).
• Endless “why” questions can drift into doubting God’s character; “what” questions invite formation.
• Ask: What do You want to teach me? What do You want to do in me?
• Example: Paul’s thorn (2 Corinthians 12:7). After three unanswered prayers for removal, he recognized God was preventing pride.
• Steward pain well; let it expose blind spots, sins, or weak faith that God wants to address.

3. Ask God, “What do You want to do through me?”

• God often launches our greatest calling from our greatest pain.
• On Jesus’ most painful day, He purchased our forgiveness (Hebrews 12:2).
• Story: Abuse at 13 and a broken family drove the pastor to his knees in a locker room; today that misery fuels a ministry to hurting people.
• Your hurt can become a lifeline for someone else when you surrender it to God’s purpose.

4. When you can’t trace God’s hand, trust God’s heart

• Though He felt forsaken, Jesus still prayed, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).
• Trust rises by saying “Amen” to God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20), even when emotions lag behind.
• Speak promises aloud:
  • “Never will I leave you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
  • “God works all things for good.” (Romans 8:28)
  • “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly.” (Ephesians 3:20)
  • “My God shall supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)
  • “His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
• Turning up trust keeps doubt from turning you away from prayer, Scripture, giving, serving, and community.

Key Truths

• Even Jesus experienced the feeling of being forsaken, proving that anguish is not a sign of God’s absence.
• God’s presence is permanent; feelings are temporary.
• Pain has purpose—first in forming Christlike character, then in fueling Christ-centered ministry.
• Honest questions are welcome at God’s throne; silence them elsewhere and they fester.
• When explanations fail, God’s unchanging promises remain a sure foundation.

Response

• Declare aloud that God is with you, especially on your worst day.
• Bring every hard “why” to God this week and ask Him “what” He wants to form in you.
• Identify one wound from your past and pray about how God might use it to serve others.
• Memorize at least one promise listed above and speak it whenever doubt surfaces.
• Choose to keep engaging—pray, read Scripture, gather with believers—even when emotions resist.

Closing

Bad days can tempt us to believe God has stepped away, but the cross proves otherwise. Jesus turned His cry of abandonment into an act of trust, and we are invited to do the same—knowing that our present chapter is only part of a much bigger story God is authoring for our good and His glory.

“Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word and for causing trust to rise in us today. Draw near to every hurting heart, flood us with mercy, grace, and strength, and help us say a wholehearted “amen” to Your promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.