I feel like God has forsaken me. What do I do?
 In The Confessions of St. Augustine, we read some of his most famous quotes: “I wandered through the broad way of the world, and You didst not forsake me” and “You were with me and I was not with You.” St. Augustinediscovered that God was always there with him, waiting for him, even while he was living far from God. So if you feel that God has forsaken you, know for sure that this is not the case. The question is, why do you feel this way? Is it because you’re facing hardships or tribulations that make you feel abandoned by God? Is it because you have been living far from God and now you feel separated from Him? Regardless of the reason, the truth is that God will never forsake you. Even if you forsake Him, He will always be waiting for you.
There
were two articles recently posted on our website here, entitled “Do Not
Despair” and “How Long, O Lord? (Psalm 13)”, both by H.H. Pope Shenouda. These
are both excellent articles, and we hope you take the time to read
them. They will comfort you and help you think positively, and help you
understand your feelings.
If you are experiencing hardships or problems, this does not mean that God has forsaken you. First, examine
yourself for any wrongdoing that could have caused the problem. If
there is something that you can correct, then repent and correct it.
Otherwise, bear the hardship patiently with prayer and thanksgiving,
knowing that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalms 34:19). In
either case though, God has not forsaken you. Do not let the problem
come between you and God, but run to God and place Him between yourself
and the problem. And
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
If you have drifted away from God, and now feel that He has forsaken you, remember that “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Return to Me,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will return to you.’” (Zechariah 1:3). “Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you” (James 4:8). Even if you have separated yourself from God because
of a life far from Him, He has not forsaken you and is still waiting
for you to return and draw near to Him. Take advantage of the Sacrament
of Repentance and Confession, and reconcile with God.
It’s
very important for you to have a consistent relationship with your
father of confession. Reveal your thoughts and feelings to him, and he
can help you discover the reasons for these feelings and how to address
them. He can guide you if you have been pushing God away, and he can
comfort you and pray for you during tribulations that make you feel as
if God has forsaken you. But in all cases, know that God will never forsake you. Lift up your heart to Him in prayer, and you will see that He is near. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
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