Famous Last Words Part 3: Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Famous Last Words Part 3: Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Have you felt forsaken by God? Maybe you’ve felt abandoned. Maybe things haven’t turned out the way you expected. Maybe you’ve been waiting a long time for a prayer to be answered.

Jesus experienced feelings of abandonment. Matthew 27:45-46 “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Why did Jesus say this?

  1. He was pointing the people to Psalm 22:
    Jesus was saying “What you are seeing now is the fulfillment of this Messianic prophecy.”
  2. Jesus was experiencing feelings of abandonment.
    Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.” AMP

How do we respond when we feel forsaken?

  1. Believe the truth.
    Hebrews 13:5
    Don’t change your theology because of your tragedy. 
    James 1:2-5
    Many times we’re wanting God to take the problem away, and He’s wanting to take us through the problem.
  2. Repurpose your pain.
    Romans 8:28
    Your tragedy is not your destiny. That catastrophe is not your calling.
    God is not as interested in what He can do FOR you, as He is interested in what He can do IN you and THRU you.
  3. Make an appointment during your disappointment. James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
    Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy”

Are you acting like God has forsaken you?