Thursday Never Abandoned

Today’s message was written by guest pastor, Rev. Hunter Camp.

Sometimes it can feel like Jesus has left the world for good. Abandoned you. And me.

The earliest memory I have of feeling abandoned happened when I was 9 years old. Fourth grade. My mom was running late to pick me up from school. At first, I sat under a big tree with other kids. One by one their mothers picked them up. I was left alone. The horrifying possibility crossed my mind; really my greatest fear: my mom has forgotten me. She’s gone. Gone and I’ll never see her again. I’m left alone.

It seems most of the great men and women we read about in scripture felt this way, at one time or another. Abraham and Sarah after being promised a child heir. Moses wandering the wilderness. Rebekah, who was barren. And the disciples of our Lord as he was nailed to a cross. The feeling of being abandoned runs through all of scripture.

In the book of John, Jesus promises that we will never be abandoned. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of hope. God’s holy spirit of hope never leaves your side. Though you may feel forsaken, you are not. You are never abandoned. Never.

Let us pray: Holy Spirit, we pray that your hope will fill our hearts and the hearts of those in need of hope. We ask that your hope give us strength and resolve to face the challenges of this day. We pray in the name of Christ, the very embodiment of hope. Amen.