Overcoming a Feeling of Abandonment

Overcoming a Feeling

of Abandonment

I N T RO D U C T I O N

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord

will take me up.

Psalm 27:10

This prayer was prompted by a letter I received from

s om e one who is incarcerated. Ac c o rding to his letter, he

grew up in a family of fighters and felt abandoned by his family

and so-ca lled friends. His pugnacious attitude con t ro lled him,

and eventually his aggre s s i ve temperament caused him to almost

kill som e on e .

In prison he was ridiculed and harassed by inmates who

encouraged him to fight. His wife divorced him, and again he was

left alone. Thoughts that “no one likes me” continually tormented

him, but he desired to know how to change his thinking.

A laborer of the harvest introduced him to Jesus and my

book, Prayers That Avail Much, Volume 1.1 He still had trouble

controlling his temper even with those who might have been his

friends. His letter was filled with the pain of loneliness and

1 Tulsa: Harrison House, 1989.

abandonment. The following is a revised and expanded version of

the original prayer I wrote, encouraging him to pray for himself.

P RAY ER

Father, I have confessed Jesus as my Lord and believe in my

heart that You raised Him from the dead. I ask for the power of

the Holy Spirit to overcome the resentment I feel toward those

who abused and abandoned me.

Now I am Your child.When other people leave me and I feel

unloved, I am thankful that You will never, ever leave me alone or

reject me.

Jesus gave His life for me and called me His friend. He lives

in my heart, and I am on my way to heaven. That is plenty to be

thankful for. So when I am lonely or discouraged, I can think of

things that are pure and holy and good, even when I am apart

from everyone.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to strengthen me and help me

while in the presence of the dangers surrounding me. You have

assigned angels who will accompany, defend, and preserve me in

all my ways [of obedience and service]. I am not alone. Your Word

says that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of

Christ — not pain nor stress nor persecution. I will come to the

top of every circumstance or trial through Jesus’ love.

You are concerned with the smallest detail that concerns me,

and You are my Help. I ask You for friends who will admonish and

encourage me. Teach me how to trust others and be a friend who

sticks closer than a brother. Help me to walk in Your love and

show myself friendly.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scripture References

Romans 10:9,10 NIV Psalm 91:11 AMP

Hebrews 13:5 NIV Romans 8:35,39

John 15:13-15 NIV Psalm 138:8 AMP

1 Thessalonians 5:18 TLB Psalm 46:1 MESSAGE

Philippians 4:8 TLB Proverbs 18:24

Isaiah 41:10 TLB