Did God Really Abandon Jesus on the Cross?

One of the most chilling verses in all of scripture is spoken from the cross:

This verse evokes an image of Jesus in His darkest moments being abandoned by God. And if the Son can be forsaken, then surely we shouldn’t be surprised when we also feel alone and forgotten by God.

But I disagree. I don’t think God left Jesus alone on the cross, and I don’t think God will leave us alone on ours either. Let me tell you why.

During the time of Jesus, the scriptures were not divided into chapters and verses. If a rabbi wanted to teach his disciples about Moses being rescued from the river, he wouldn’t say, “Everyone turn to Exodus Chapter 2.” Instead, he would just start quoting it: “And there went a man of the house of Levi...” and his followers would then know where in the scriptures he was.

Even on the cross, Jesus is continuing to teach. He doesn’t say, “Everyone open your Bibles to Psalm 22.” Instead, he begins by quoting the psalm, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Now everyone listening knows to turn their minds to Psalm 22.

Attributed to King David, this psalm begins in anguish. It is raw and honest. David feels that God is far away. But that isn’t how it ends.

Later in the same psalm, we read something striking:

Psalm 22 shows how two things can be true at once: feeling like God is far away and the reality that God is right beside us.

Feeling forsaken is not the same thing as being forsaken.

As Jesus is suffering on the cross, He’s continuing to comfort. Imagine how those who stayed by His side must have felt: alone, afraid, forgotten. Jesus isn’t encouraging them to spiritually bypass their suffering. He’s acknowledging it. He is speaking out loud the full weight of human anguish. But He is also reminding them that they are not alone in the suffering. How does He do this? By having them turn to Psalm 22. “My God, my God...”

For many of us, we let our pain become evidence.
Evidence that we failed.
Evidence that God has left us.
Evidence that silence means God isn't listening.

Psalm 22 pushes back against that logic. Jesus pushes back against that logic.

Even when we are in pain and feel alone, even when we feel forsaken, we can still cry out to God. God does not hide His face from us. He hears us.

As we begin a new year, some of us are carrying grief, disappointment, or exhaustion with no easy explanation. This can make us cry out, “God, are You even there?”

Jesus’ suffering gives us the answer. Our suffering does not mean God has turned away from us.

If you are beginning this year feeling worn thin, unheard, or unsure how to pray, Psalm 22 gives you permission to speak honestly—without concluding that you are alone. God does not require tidy faith or cheerful endurance. God hears even our cries that are still searching for hope.

Have a wonderful 2026,

Heather Ruth Pack

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Have you ever felt completely alone in your trials, only to later realize God was with you the whole time? How did you notice His presence?

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