One of my biggest fears is the fear of abandonment. Loved ones leaving. Being left out or left behind. Being overlooked or forgotten, especially by those closest to me. And that reinforces the fear that I’m not good enough, that I’m not worthy.

It’s something that I often come back to in counseling as I process my past. There’s a pattern in my life of people leaving. And the fear of it happening again can be overwhelming at times.

People often say faith is the opposite of fear, but I heard from a pastor once that love is. 1 John 4:18 says “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”

God has been reminding me of His steadfast love this week as I continue to process my past and all the feelings that go with it. I’m so thankful for the Bible, for encouraging verses and promises. Psalm 27:9-10 caught my attention, as it includes the word “abandon.”

“Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up.” – Psalm 27:9-10 (NASB)

Even when others abandon or forsake us, God receives us. He picks us up and takes us in. All of us. Not just the pieces that are deemed acceptable. He welcomes every part of us.

Here are a few words from Psalm 27:9-10 and their Hebrew definitions from Blue Letter Bible…

• abandon (nāṭaš): “properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon; inclusively, reject, let alone… leave, forsake, permit; usually forsake, abandon, to send away, to let go.”
• forsake/forsaken (ʿāzaḇ): “to loosen, to relinquish; to leave, forsake, loose, abandon; to loosen bands; to leave a person; to desert, as the wretched, the poor.”
• take/receive (‘āsap̄): “to gather for any purpose, hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove; to scrape together.”

When others break us and leave us, God picks us up – every piece – and makes us whole again in His presence. He scrapes it all together, with all the care and gentleness in the world. Nothing is left behind.

“Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].” – Psalm 27:10 (AMPC)

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” – Psalm 27:10 (NIV)

“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” – Psalm 27:10 (NLT)

Those closest to you might give up and move on, but the Lord will never leave you. It’s not in His nature to forsake or abandon. It’s not His character to leave you broken and crushed. It’s His heart to pursue you in love and gather you in His arms.

God promises to be with us, always, wherever we go, to not fail or abandon us.

• “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
• “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
• “…Just as I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you.” – Joshua 1:5 (AMP)

I know all of this in my head. Believing it in my heart will take some more practice.

Praying for you, for God’s love to cast out your fear.