Some people abandon God when their lives don’t turn out the way they wanted. They believe God owed them something, often a circumstance which did not happen (such as praying for a person to live, but he or she died anyway). Often these people will say God let them down, and they can no longer have their former faith in God.
In Scripture, we see Judas Iscariot who felt Jesus disappointed him. In the 14th chapter of Mark, a woman anoints Jesus with expensive oil. Judas is outraged, but Jesus explains she did this for his burial. Judas finally realizes Jesus is not going to be the “conquering-king” Judas and the Jewish leaders desired, and after this he goes to the Jewish leaders to find a way to betray Jesus. Judas was angry that Jesus was a “suffering servant-king,” not the conquerer Judas demanded. Judas turned from Jesus and betrayed him, due to Judas’ disappointment.
From Judas’ example we realize a person can seem very close to the Lord but not truly surrender her (or his) heart. The apostle John explained this, (1John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”) This is the key to the abandonment of their former faith. The faith they had was not a saving faith. It was a conditional faith based upon receiving what they thought God should give them. Their falling away can be seen in the parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13. In verse 6-7, Jesus described the soil this way, “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” In verses 20-21 Jesus clarifies, “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” These people never surrendered their will to God. They would only follow God if He gave them what they wanted (trouble free life). Their demands were revealed when they left God.
People with saving faith may experience doubts and even go through a prodigal time (temporarily turning one’s back on God). But these people have surrendered their lives to God, and they will always come back to him, even if they experience horrible trauma and extreme tragedy. Consider the Old Testament prophet, Job. He lost all his children, wealth and health. He refused to do as his wife said, “Curse God and die,” Job 2:9. Yet as he suffered ill health, he unrighteously questioned God, such as in Job 7:20, “Why have you made me your target.” God confronted Job and then forgave Job for his weakness.
When Jesus asked his 12 disciples if they would leave him as many others did (and Judas would do) Peter responded “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have he words of eternal life,” John 6:68. Yet another time, Peter denied even knowing Christ (Luke 22:54-62). Despite his sin, Peter always came back to Jesus.
It is possible to feel disappointed with God; I have. I knew God was right, but I felt so frustrated. I cried out to him, first in unrighteous anger and later in a repentant request for his help. He did help me.
Our relationships with God will be rocky, because we are frail humans living in a disappointingly sinful world full of sickness and disasters. Life will often disappoint us, forcing us to go a different direction then we wanted. But if we can realize God truly wants the best for us, even if we temporarily turn our backs on him, we will always come back.
If you know someone who expressed disappointment with God and thus abandoned him, keep loving that person, especially a friend or family member. Your love and strong faith could work like a candle in a window in a blizzard, enabling your nearly frozen-hearted friend to see life and hope in you and be drawn to you. Keep loving God and loving those who have walked away from Him. Keep praying for them. They are better off without the unsaving faith they once had. They now need real faith. Your love and faith may help draw them truly to the Lord.
I am praying for you, my beloved readers. I pray I’ve encouraged you, and I’ve shown you how valuable your faith is. You may not even know how much you have encouraged others, simply by living your faith and loving your friends, including those who have never loved the Lord and those who have walked away from him. Keep loving the Lord and loving them. May the Lord bless you this week.