The Lord Will Not Abandon You!

May 5, 2026

Scripture

“The wicked watch for the righteous and seek to kill them.  The Lord will not abandon them to their power or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.”  Psalm 37:32-33

The Lord Will Not Abandon You!

I have felt abandoned by Jesus.

The times in which the feelings of being abandoned by Jesus was the most intense were when it was clear that people who were wicked (or at least had evil intentions!) were seeking to hurt me, discourage me, or even destroy me.  As those seasons of abandonment persisted, I did the only things I knew to do. 

+I prayed and prayed and prayed until the silence from the Lord left me questioning the value of praying anymore.  There seemed to be no answer from the Lord God. 

+I sought the wise counsel of other Christ-followers over and over and over until I wondered about the value of seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit through other believers.  There seemed to be no guidance from the Holy Spirit.

+I read verses from the Bible day after day after day until I was left confused about the value of reading the Scripture each day.  There seemed to be no word from Jesus.

I felt alone and abandoned.  I felt isolated and injured.  I felt forsaken and forgotten.  I felt chased after and crushed.  I know the truth of what David writes in Psalm 37:32; “The wicked watch for the righteous and seek to kill them.”

The wicked were watching and waiting to destroy me.  And, the wicked were effective in destroying a good portion of God’s peace and joy in my soul.  They were effective in destroying a good amount of the hope that comes through my faith in Jesus and the promise that flows out of God’s goodness and grace into me.

David acknowledges there are times when we know the wicked are watching our every step with the intent to destroy what is good and holy in us.  At the same time, David shares God’s promise with those who feel abandoned in the midst of the attacks from those who are wicked.  In Psalm 37:33 David writes; “The Lord will not abandon them to their power or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.”

In several of David’s other songs, he reminds us the Lord God will not abandon us. 

In Psalm 46:1-2 we hear; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.”

In Psalm 17:8-9 we hear; “Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.”

In Psalm 57:1 we hear; “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by.”

In Psalm 50:15 we hear; “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

In other writings in the Bible, there is a similar promise from the Lord God.  In II Corinthians 1:7 the Apostle Paul writes; “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.”

A bit later in the same letter, the Apostle Paul puts the attacks of those who are wicked into eternal perspective.  In II Corinthians 4:16-17 Paul writes; “So we do not lose heart.  Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.”

In the writings of the prophet we hear the promise of the Lord God again.  In Isaiah 41:10 we hear; “…do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” 

The reality is people who are wicked will watch for and attack those who love the Lord God.  Those who are wicked will often seek to destroy those whose faith is secure in the Lord God.

They will wait and plot as they gather support.  Then, they will attack at just the right moment in ways that strike at our core.  The good news is the Lord God also gives us hope.

The promise is the Lord God will protect us from the attacks of people who are wicked.  Jesus will be our safe place, our sanctuary, and our place of retreat (see Psalm 37:39).  At the same time, Jesus will be our protector, our deliverer, and our helper.  In Psalm 37:40 David writes; “The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

The promise is the Lord God will not abandon us or forget us or forsake us when the wicked are trying to destroy us.  The Lord is with us always and especially when we are under attack.  In Psalm 23:4 David writes; “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me…” 

Several hundred years later, Jesus offers the same promise.  In Matthew 28:20 Jesus says; “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  When we are under attack by people who are wicked, the Lord God will help us, rescue us, and save us. 

The Lord God promises He is always present with us and is always our protector.  The Lord will not abandon those who love Him.

Reflect

Remember a time when you were under attack by a person(s) who was wicked (i.e., wanted to destroy you or wreck something good in you!).  Describe a time when you felt the Lord God had abandoned you when you were under attack.  Where did you find hope and help from Jesus during that season?  What did that hope and help look like for you?

Pray

Lord God, protect me from the attacks of people who are wicked, from the schemes of Satan, from the power of darkness in the world.  Protect me from the darts thrown at me by the power of darkness; i.e., discouragement, disappointment, disillusionment, depression, distraction, and deprivation.  As you protect me, give me the assurance that you are also present with me.  Reassure me of your power and protection and presence when I feel abandoned and under attack.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Act

If you have a friend who is under attack from people who are wicked, reach out and invite them to share a cup of coffee.  Listen to their story.  Discern if they are feeling hopeless, helpless, or even abandoned by Jesus.  Offer them a word of encouragement, a word of hope, a Word from the Lord God.  Share one of the passages cited above.