One of the worst things that can ever happen in life is to be abandoned by those who should have been there for you. There are countless people in this world who were abandoned by their parents. And so many who’ve been abandoned by their soul-mate who’s headed off to greener pastures. Abandonment is a terrible thing. You can even be surrounded by apparently well-meaning people and still feel completely alone.

Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869. She was abducted and enslaved as a child. Abandoned and separated from her family, she endured immense suffering but later, miraculously, found refuge with a kind Italian family.

That’s where she encountered Christ, dedicating the rest of her life to serving others. Somehow, despite those traumatic beginnings, God transformed her pain into a powerful testimony of forgiveness, resilience, and unwavering faith.

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

That was written by King David of Israel over 3,000 years ago. He knew firsthand, through many life threatening times of abandonment, that God would always be there for him.

It’s hard to imagine anything more desperate or dangerous than a child being abandoned by its parents. Yet as in Josephine’s case, God invariably has this way of taking such terrible circumstances and turning them around for good.

It’s something I went through when my first wife abandoned me for another man over 30 years ago. And I can tell you, when in the midst of that terrible time I turned to God, He did things – He’s still doing things – to turn that bad into good.

Even if other people abandon you, God will always hold you close.

That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.