WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FEEL ABANDONED BY GOD

     (Psalm 13)

…Even though we know that God is always with us, there are times when we begin to doubt it.  We all face hard

  times in this FALLEN WORLD, and it is during those times we are most prone to feel that God has abandoned us.

  Yet, we rarely tell anyone of such feelings, for what would they think of us? 

…It is encouraging to find the great David struggling with the feeling of being abandoned by God.  If David had

  such feelings and even expressed it, so can we.  Be encouraged, you are not any different.

…David wrote Psalm 13 in which he tells of his despair and how he overcame it.   We do well to imitate him in this.

THREE OBSERVATIONS OF DAVID’S DESPAIR HELPING US TO OVERCOME IT WHEN IT VISITS US.

…Be sure of this, that sooner or later in this life it will visit you.

I.      There Are Times In Life When We, Like David, Will Struggle With The Sense

        That God Has Abandoned Us.  (vv.1-2)   This is common for God’s people…

                A.            David’s feelings of being abandoned by God is expressed by the 4  “HOW LONGS?”    

                                1.             As mentioned, such feelings are far more common than it appears.  People feel that

                                                no one cares about them, so God must not as well.

                                2.             For the Christian, there is not much helpful material available to help at such times.

                B.             David tell us why he felt such distress:

                                1.             His problem was a chronic-prolonged struggle.  “forever?” …Or so it seemed.

                                                …we can usually withstand a huge blow, but when it becomes longterm we faint…

                                2.             There was an apparent lack of BLESSING in his life, that was far different from

                                                what he had enjoyed earlier.                    “hide your face”          (ex: Job)

                                                …this can happen in our family relationships, our work, our church, our spiritual lives.

                                3.             There were very dark thoughts and almost uncontrollable emotions that overwhelm…

                                                “wrestle with my thoughts” 

                                                …Some personalities struggle more with this than others…

                                                …Physical factors also contribute: illnesses and tiredness. (ex: Spurgeon)

                                4.             Our enemies can also drive us to the feeling of abandonment.  Satan is chief here…

                                                “my enemy triumph over me.”   (ex: Elijah)

II.     The Only Way Out Of This Despair Is To Pray, For This Is The Turning Point.

         (vv. 3-4)  We must pray consistently and urgently!

                A.            When such feelings come, don’t stop walking with the Lord and camp in the valley of depression.

                                Like David, we too must recover a sense of God’s presence in our lives. 

                B.             PRAYER is the KEY            .  James 5…”the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

                C.             David’s prayer included three requests: 

                                1.             “look to me.”  This is the opposite of abandonment.  “God, please favor me again!!!”

                                2.             “answer me.”  He felt that God was no longer speaking to him.  “God, please answer me”

                                3.             “give light to my eyes.”  He felt helpless, near death.  “God, please help and save me.”

                                                …please restore me to full physical and mental health.    “Help!!!”

III.    Though Our Situation May Remain The Same, We Can Move From Despair To A 

        Song.  (vv.5-6)  …We can recover a renewed trust in the Lord!!!

                A.            David’s circumstances have not changed, yet a calm confidence now floods his soul. 

                                …God gives him a renewed trust in Him in the midst of his storm. 

                B.             Now he is singing a song to the Lord!!!  Wow, this change is huge.  He has recalled God’s good-

                                ness to him in the past, and he is again trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness.

                                Charles Spurgeon writes:

                                “David’s heart was more out of tune than his harp.”

                                “the rain is over and gone, and the time of the singing of birds has come.” 

                                “prayer has so refreshed the poor weeper that he clears his throat for a song.”

                                “the Lord returns our song after sorrow.”  “listen to the music faith makes in David’s soul.”

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES: