Have you felt abandoned by your friends? Were you hurt by their abandonment? Did you forgive them for abandoning you? Where did you find strength to move on? Did you merely pull up your bootstraps and continue marching? Or did you have help from someone?
Being abandoned by friends can cut deep into our hearts. It can be so depressing that it immobilizes us. We can walk around in a fog with days, weeks, or months. We can carry the hurt for years. Unfortunately, by carrying the hurt we are only hurting ourselves.
The Apostle Paul had been deserted by people he thought he could count on. Yet, he did not hold it against them and asked God not to hold it against them. How could he move on? He leaned on God. He states that God stood by him and gave him strength. Paul knew that God was always with him. He knew there was a much bigger picture than this life.
We, too, can forgive others. When we do, we find that we set ourselves free. The hurt is released because God takes it away. We no longer walk around in a fog. Our hearts heal. The depression turns to joy. We walk lighter, feel better, and can enjoy life once again.
When we lean on God, he gives us strength. In his strength and with our freedom, we can continue with the mission God has given us. For Paul, it was proclaiming the gospel to the gentiles. Our individual mission will be different but no less important. God gives each of us a unique mission and he provides for us. It is up to us to leave our baggage behind.
I pray we all forgive those who have abandoned us. I pray we decide to set ourselves free from the hurt. I pray each one of us will lean on God, accepting his strength, and continuing the mission he gave us. Forgive others. Set yourself free. Lean on God. Accept God’s strength. Continue God’s mission for you.
2 Timothy 4:19 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
Marty Pressey 