How should Matthew 27:46 influence our response to feelings of abandonment by God? The Cry from the Cross “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46) Jesus’ Honest Lament • Jesus voices the raw anguish of Psalm 22:1—“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” • He still addresses the Father as “My God,” holding fast to covenant relationship even while experiencing the horror of bearing our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). • His loud cry shows that honest lament is not unbelief; it is faith expressing pain before the One who hears. Truths Anchored in the Cry • Substitution accomplished: Jesus endured real forsakenness so that believers would never face it (Hebrews 13:5). • Identification secured: He fully sympathizes with every moment we feel abandoned (Hebrews 4:15-16). • Scripture affirmed: Quoting Psalm 22 ties His suffering to prophecy, reminding us that our own trials unfold within God’s sovereign story. Guidelines for Our Dark Nights 1. Speak honestly to God. – Psalm-shaped prayers give vocabulary for grief (Psalm 42; Psalm 77). 2. Cling to covenantal language. – Say “My God” even when emotions scream otherwise; feelings fluctuate, His promise doesn’t (Isaiah 41:10). 3. Remember the cross is proof of love, not absence. – Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare His own Son… how will He not also… graciously give us all things?” 4. Look ahead to vindication. – Psalm 22 ends in triumph (verse 24, 27-31); Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). 5. Lean on the Body of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 calls believers to “carry one another’s burdens,” making God’s presence tangible through fellowship. Promises to Preach to Your Heart • Hebrews 13:5—“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” • Matthew 28:20—“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” • Romans 8:38-39—Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • Psalm 34:18—“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the crushed in spirit.” • Isaiah 49:15—“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast…? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Putting Lament into Practice • Set aside time to read Psalm 22 aloud, ending with thanks for the empty tomb. • Journal your fears, then answer each one with a specific promise above. • Sing hymns that trace the cross to resurrection (“How Deep the Father’s Love,” “In Christ Alone”). • Reach out to a trusted believer; confess the struggle and receive prayerful encouragement. Living in Light of Matthew 27:46 Because Jesus was truly forsaken, we who are in Him never will be. His loud, anguished question grants us permission to lament, assurance that He understands, and confidence that the Father’s everlasting arms still hold us—especially when we cannot feel them. |
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