Reflections4Life™ April 5, 2020
“Betrayed,
Rejected, but Not Abandoned”
“And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to
kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with
a kiss?” Luke 22:47-48
Scripture Contemplation: Matthew 26-28; John
19; Romans 3; Hebrews 7...
Wishing each and everyone a
glorious Palm Sunday. I pray this time of reflection on the Cross, and the
resurrection of Christ, will bring you clarity, strength, and encouragement in
these very difficult times that we are currently facing. Know that it is never
over until God says it is over.
There are times in our lives
when each person will feel the sting of betrayal and rejection. People will
disappoint us, hurt us, and even leave us. Though we are betrayed and rejected,
we are not abandoned. Not by the Father. God is always there, whether we
acknowledge Him or not.
I decree that this week's Reflections
will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart,
mind, and soul. May the redemptive work of Calvary flood your heart, mind, and
soul; bringing you peace and encouragement and the knowledge that with God, you
are never alone.
We have all experienced what
it feels like to be betrayed by someone you love or trust. We can also attest
to knowing the feeling of being rejected. Rejected by the people you love;
someone you admire, someone you like, a job, or position. We know the sting,
and often the heartache.
Many of us even know the
devastation of being left behind. Left by those who were supposed to care for
us and love us. Too, look out for our best interest and protect us. Though they
left, we are not abandoned. Not if we know God, and understand that, He is with
us always; even when we do not acknowledge Him, feel Him, or see Him. He is
there.
Abandon: to leave and never
return to (someone who needs protection or help). : to leave and never return
to (something). : to leave (a place) because of danger ...(Merriam-Webster)
The human heart can be a messy
thing. It can be deceitful and cruel. Just as it can be loving and kind. While
others cannot fathom the thought of abandoning someone they love or hurting
them in any way, shape, or form; there are others that will cause devastation,
leaving many broken and bruised.
Yet, even with all this
devastation and heartache, there is a fact that so many people do not know or
understand—God is there. He's always been there. Waiting for us to call upon
Him. To come to Him. To know that He has never abandoned us. He has never left
us. In fact, He has been reaching out towards us, calling for us to take His
hands and trust Him.
Even in our darkest hours when
the enemy is whispering his lies, and saying that not even God cares or
understands; that God has abandoned us and forgotten us; God is there. He is
there waiting for us to call unto Him. Waiting for us to accept the love and
healing that He has long offered us. Waiting for us to show up to His table and
dine with Him.
Now, more than ever we need to
cling to God and our faith. Facing the onslaught of COVID-19, it has shaken
many people’s faith. With the constant reporting and the negative reports, we
are inundated with so much negativity, that it becomes all we see; causing many
of our hearts and hope to fail. In times like these, we cannot let go of our
faith. We must be proactive in speaking the word and remembering who we are
and what the word of God says. We must speak positive affirmations to counter
all the negative coming our way. If we don’t, we will crumble under the weight
of such negativity. We can, and will get through this because GOD is with us.
This pandemic is not God leaving us, but He is speaking to us and reminding us
that He will never leave or abandon us; though it is hard for many to believe
and see.
When you are one that has
experienced much betrayal and rejection in your life, it is hard to imagine or
believe that there is someone that actually cares enough for you to stay with
you through your ups and downs. Someone that will never leave you, or hold your
faults, and past against you. It is hard to reconcile within yourself that
there is someone that loves you just for you, and will move heaven and earth
just for you; just as He gave His only begotten Son for you.
It's hard to believe because
we have put God on the level of man. We have placed God in the position of who
a man is, and how they can disappoint. So we attribute the same characteristics
to our Heavenly Father.
There are also those of us who
have a difficult time reconciling within our hearts and mind how it is possible
for God to love us as He says He does when our lives have been hit with such
devastation and setbacks. It is hard for us to justify in our mind that God
truly cares and yet can allow us to be disappointed and our faith shaken and
sometimes shattered. How is that God never leaving us, when these things keep
occurring in our life? Isn't the Father supposed to protect us?
I've been there. And it's a
hard place to be when you are in your emotions, and just simply cannot
understand or justify the hurt and pain your heart is feeling with the God you
have come to know and serve. Yet, I will say this: we live in a world that is
filled with darkness. There are people that make decisions that affect our
lives. Yet, God is still merciful and in control. If we can hold on to His word
and promises, we will see God show up in unexpected ways.
No matter the circumstance or
the situation, God is there, He is in control, and His will is done concerning us.
No matter how much it seems that the devil has won; no matter how heavy the
hurt or devastation, God is still in control. If we continue to trust Him, seek
Him, and not abandon our faith, we will see that ALL things are working for our
good. Understanding will come. Maybe not today or tomorrow or next week, but it
will come. We just have to have faith, which dictates that we walk by faith and
not by sight.
Jesus was in the garden of
Gethsemane, battling His flesh for our souls. Feeling the sting of betrayal;
knowing what Judas had done. Knowing the time of rejection before Him; how His
disciples would scatter, and the very people He ministered to, healed, set
free, would betray and reject Him; He determined that may His Father's will be
done and not His own. Though He was betrayed and rejected, He understood that
He was not abandoned by His Father.
Because of this, we live.
Because of this moment, this decision, we have access to eternal life. Because
of this moment, we can know that we are never abandoned, never alone, as long
as we know God. Even in our darkest hours, when all seems lost and makes no
sense; God is there, stretching His hands towards us. Reaching out to us and
admonishing us to come and have a seat at His table so He can fill us up.
Though people may betray you,
reject you, and even leave you; know in your heart that the Father will never
abandon you. He is there with you in all of your storms, tests, and trials. He
is encouraging you and making ways for you that you have yet to see. Everything
that you experience in this life, God will make it for your good; if you trust
Him and keep believing. God will never leave you. He was there before you even
showed up.
My Beloved, I decree that the
spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives.
Believe with all your heart and soul that God will never leave you, betray you,
or reject you. He has a standing invitation just for you at His table of
abundant life. Where man has failed you, allow God to lift and keep you. He
sent His Son just for you. He will never give up on you. You are blessed. Now
go...and be a blessing!
©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.
Video; Don't Believe the Lie
