NOT ALONE
By: Whitney Northern
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3:9-11 NIV)
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)
The story of Adam and Eve has been told time and again, and I’ve read the story for myself since I was a little girl. A few years ago, I was going through a rough time emotionally and something about this story popped out to me. For about twenty-three years I have struggled off and on with feelings of abandonment. Even after receiving healing years ago and being able to forgive and love the one that abandoned me, the enemy still uses being fatherless as his ultimate attack against my mind.
When I was reading one night, I read this exchange between Adam and God and, for some reason, I read it in a completely different way. I’d always thought of God as angry in these moments, but what if God was heartbroken that someone made his child believe something that wasn’t true about themselves?
If one of my children came home one day and told me something contradictory to what I know is true about them, I would be heartbroken! I think God felt the same way about Adam and Eve.
I know God feels the same way about us! He loves us— to Him we are beautiful and perfect in his sight. He loves us so much that He engraved us into the palm of his hand (Isaiah 49:16)! We never have to feel abandoned, because our God will never leave us.
If you’re feeling abandoned or struggling with feeling alone, know that the God of all the universe loves you and chose you. He’d choose you a thousand times over and more. You are His and you are never alone.
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3:9-11 NIV)
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)
The story of Adam and Eve has been told time and again, and I’ve read the story for myself since I was a little girl. A few years ago, I was going through a rough time emotionally and something about this story popped out to me. For about twenty-three years I have struggled off and on with feelings of abandonment. Even after receiving healing years ago and being able to forgive and love the one that abandoned me, the enemy still uses being fatherless as his ultimate attack against my mind.
When I was reading one night, I read this exchange between Adam and God and, for some reason, I read it in a completely different way. I’d always thought of God as angry in these moments, but what if God was heartbroken that someone made his child believe something that wasn’t true about themselves?
If one of my children came home one day and told me something contradictory to what I know is true about them, I would be heartbroken! I think God felt the same way about Adam and Eve.
I know God feels the same way about us! He loves us— to Him we are beautiful and perfect in his sight. He loves us so much that He engraved us into the palm of his hand (Isaiah 49:16)! We never have to feel abandoned, because our God will never leave us.
If you’re feeling abandoned or struggling with feeling alone, know that the God of all the universe loves you and chose you. He’d choose you a thousand times over and more. You are His and you are never alone.