“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.”
The Loneliness
Paul names this directly here, worth examining closely, all men forsook me, worth holding as honest, comprehensive naming, not exaggeration but genuine, honest description, worth recognizing that even a genuine apostle knew this exact, comprehensive experience of being left entirely alone.
This is worth examining against however much you have assumed this level of comprehensive abandonment must reflect something uniquely wrong with you, rather than Paul’s own honest testimony, this experience genuinely, actually possible even for someone this significantly, genuinely faithful.
Notice I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge, worth holding as remarkable, Paul’s own genuine forgiveness extended even within this same, honest naming of genuine abandonment, worth examining whether both, honest naming and genuine forgiveness, can actually coexist in your own experience too.
Whatever comprehensive forsaking you have genuinely, honestly experienced, name it today as directly as Paul named his, all men forsook me, and consider whether, alongside this honest naming, you might also, genuinely extend this same forgiveness Paul modeled directly, both held together.
Live As Family
- Name honestly whatever comprehensive forsaking you have genuinely experienced.
- Receive Paul’s testimony as companionship, not evidence of unique, personal failure.
- Consider extending forgiveness alongside this honest naming, both held together as Paul modeled.
Prayer
Lord, at my own hard moment, many forsook me. Let me name this honestly, and, like Paul, extend genuine forgiveness alongside this honest naming. Amen.
Carry this today
Comprehensive abandonment can genuinely happen even to faithful people, honestly named.