For centuries, the poignant words of Psalm 22:1-2 have given voice to the deepest grief and confusion experienced by God’s people in their darkest times. This Psalm captures the raw anguish of innocent suffering, the feeling of being utterly abandoned, even by God:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”
Many who have faced profound suffering resonate with these words. The sensation of being forsaken by God, of crying out without answer, and enduring sleepless nights tormented by an anxious soul is a deeply human experience. This desolation that accompanies intense suffering can be terrifying, making one question if they have incurred God’s displeasure, or if their pain is a form of divine judgment.
Such suffering can be crushing, perplexing, and trigger overwhelming feelings of abandonment, even spiritual abandonment. These emotions are valid and should not be dismissed. However, a critical question arises amidst such trials: Does God ever truly abandon those who are in Christ? Will God ever forsake you?
THE PROFOUND CRY OF DERELICTION
We are not alone in uttering the words of Psalm 22 in moments of agony. These very words were spoken by Jesus, the ultimate innocent sufferer, as he faced death for the sins of humanity. Understanding Jesus’ cry of abandonment is crucial to navigating our own feelings of abandonment. Matthew 27:45-47 (and Mark 15:33-34) recounts this pivotal moment:
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”
The Gospel of Matthew describes an unnatural darkness enveloping the land for three hours. In Scripture, darkness often symbolizes God’s judgment and displeasure, representing separation from the very essence of light. This “felt” darkness mirrored the plague upon Egypt in Exodus 10:21-22, a divine judgment separating Egyptians from Israelites. Therefore, the darkness during Jesus’ crucifixion transcends a mere natural event; it is a sign of God’s judgment and displeasure.
Jesus himself understood this darkness in this way. He endured its weight for three hours, and as the ninth hour approached (approximately 3:00 PM), he emerged from the darkness, breaking the silence with a cry of anguish, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1 resonated from the lips of the sinless Son of God as he confronted abandonment by all, including his Father.
WAS JESUS TRULY FORSAKEN?
Jesus’ cry of dereliction presents a profound theological challenge. Was Jesus genuinely God-forsaken, or did he merely experience a feeling of being forsaken? Some interpret his cry as an expression of loneliness, while others view it as a declaration of triumph, pointing to the Psalm’s concluding triumphant tone. However, to truly grasp the moment, we must accept Jesus’ cry at face value. It was a real cry of abandonment. Biblical scholar R.T. France aptly notes, “The words Jesus chose to utter are those of unqualified desolation, and Matthew and Mark give no hint that he did not mean exactly what he said.” [1]
This scripture reveals the profound depth and horror of Jesus’ suffering. In that moment, Jesus was plunged into a spiritual outer darkness, separated from the Father’s presence, to bear the burden of the world’s sins. France further explains, “In giving his life as a ransom for many for the forgiveness of sins he must, for the moment, be separated from his Father.” [2] Having known unbroken communion with the Father from eternity, Jesus felt the full force of separation from God that our sin demanded. For the first time, he was truly alone, utterly God-forsaken.
When contemplating this difficult truth, two critical points should be remembered. First, this was not divine child abuse or cosmic injustice. The Father and the Son willingly chose this path of redemption, and both experienced immense agony during Jesus’ crucifixion. To secure our salvation, the Father purposefully separated himself from the Son, but this separation was temporary. Second, the unity of the Trinity remained unbroken. The Father, Son, and Spirit exist eternally in perfect, unbroken fellowship. While the intricate “psychology of the Son of God” in this moment remains beyond our full comprehension, [3] we affirm that Jesus experienced genuine abandonment by the Father while simultaneously upholding the eternal unity of the Triune God. Now, returning to our initial question.
WILL GOD EVER ABANDON US?
Will God ever truly abandon those who are in Christ? If Jesus’ cry of dereliction stemmed from a real, though temporary, abandonment by the Father, does this imply that we, too, could be forsaken by God? When we collapse under the weight of our burdens and cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” are we merely echoing feelings, or does this reflect our reality? The glorious truth we celebrate, especially during Easter, is that God will never abandon those who are united with Christ.
Jesus’ cry of dereliction illuminates this very assurance. He was abandoned for a moment so that we might live with eternal assurance. The innocent sufferer was God-forsaken so that we would never be. This is a profound and life-altering truth.
Even when we endure undeserved suffering, we remain inherently sinful. It is this sin that creates a separation between us and God. Even on our best days, we fall short of loving God with our entire being, treasuring Him above all else, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. We are, in essence, deserving of being cast into outer darkness, separated from God’s presence. God would be just in deserting us, leaving us to face the consequences of our sins.
Yet, Jesus, even in his darkest hour, loved God with all his being, treasured Him supremely, and loved humanity selflessly. Jesus chose to be separated from the Father so that we could be reconciled to God through him. Jesus was forsaken by God so that we might be forgiven. Nothing can alter this reality – not your circumstances, not your suffering, and not your sin.
This is the powerful message of hope that believers can cling to amidst pain and despair. Without the illuminating truth of the Gospel, darkness would indeed overwhelm. But Jesus was overwhelmed on our behalf, granting us unwavering hope. It’s a constant reminder: “There is always hope in Jesus!”
To anyone suffering, remember this enduring truth, especially during challenging times. God will not abandon you because you are in Christ. Feelings of abandonment may arise, and darkness may seem insurmountable. Yet, the unshakeable foundation upon which you stand amidst suffering is that Jesus was temporarily abandoned on your behalf, ensuring that you will never be truly forsaken.
[1] France, R.T. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007. Print.
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid.
