FEELING ABANDONED ON A BUS
Last month in Warsaw, IL, four-year-old Amelia Tibbits was accidentally left on a school bus after everyone else went inside the school. The school did not call home to check about the absence, so no one knew she was missing. Her grandfather, who put Amelia and her brother on the bus in the morning, met the bus when it returned a couple of hours later; but the little girl didn’t get off. He called the school and immediately filed a report with the sheriff’s office. Meanwhile, Amelia called attention to her plight by repeatedly honking the bus horn until a passing teacher came to investigate. She was reunited with her family after the scare, but an investigation is now underway regarding how this happened.
FEELING FORSAKEN BY GOD
Today’s text shares David’s famous lament, which expresses feelings of abandonment by God. Jesus echoes the same words on the cross. One of many events in David’s life could have prompted these anxious sentiments, including King Saul’s relentless pursuit of him into the wilderness. Despite his fear, David praises the Lord, hoping for rescue and trusting himself to God’s provision.
Questions
- When have you felt abandoned or forsaken?
- Is it easy or difficult for you to trust God in desperate circumstances?
- Why do you think the words of this psalm were on Jesus’ mind as He hung on the cross?
