I had a messy-train-wreck-weepy-meltdown a few Saturdays ago. My husband looked bewildered as we stood in the kitchen during the sob-fest before he gathered me in his arms for a big hug.
Why was I having a nuclear melt-down?
I had just dropped our 9-month-old Lab at the veterinarian to board him for 3 days while we went to the beach. This emotional avalanche took me by surprise! Previously I would have identified myself as an animal lover, who takes great care of my pets, but isn’t so attached that I would be boo-hooing over leaving my puppy to be boarded for a couple days.
I kept thinking about how scared he would be without us. Was he wondering where we were? Did he hate hearing the other dogs barking? Was he being fed enough? Did he get to play enough or was he bored?
The worst thought? Did he think we were coming back or did he feel abandoned?
Thinking about how overwhelmed I felt about leaving him, I started thinking about how God never abandons us…even if it feels like it. God’s Word promises that he will not leave us or abandon us. Ever.
In Hebrews 13:5 (NASB), we are reminded “…for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”
There it is. Right in His own words. “I will never desert you” and “nor will I forsake you.” What an amazing promise!
That promise is repeated several times in both the Old Testament and New Testament. We can look at Deuteronomy or 2 Corinthians for other examples.
“For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.” ~Deuteronomy 4:31 (NASB)
“…persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”~2 Corinthians 4:9 (NASB)
There are countless times in one’s life that they could feel that God is not there. And yet, He is there. We know God keeps his word and we know that He promises to not forsake us, so we can make the leap to know He won’t leave.
I can’t begin to know if my puppy felt alone and abandoned, even though I was emotional about the thought. What I can begin to know is that even in my darkest hour of feeling abandoned, my God is there.
He never left.
~Emily
Iron Porch 