Faith Born in Abandonment: Finding Support from Christian Counseling
The old statement, “Necessity is the mother of invention” (Plato), celebrates the beauty that comes from need. There are no catchy phrases to describe every happy little consequence that stems from adversity or need. There aren’t t-shirts that read “Anxiety Begets Boundaries” or “Rejections Gave Me Clarity.” Phrases like this on merch could help us remember these ideas that are so hard to grasp. Sometimes, the pain that we try so desperately to avoid actually ends up leading us directly to the most profound growth and the loving arms of our Father. Abandonment Abandonment is a good example. Abandonment can crush you, leaving you questioning your worth, your relationships, and even your faith. But buried under the rubble of heartache and the salty tears, something surprisingly amazing can emerge: faith. When you’re surrounded by comfort, plenty, and love, your needs diminish. Your belly is full, your heart connected, and your needs met. But when you are left alone, abandoned, and left to fend for yourself, those comforts, connections, and needs may not be as easy to meet. A divorced dad who is used to having a wife next to him in bed at night might feel loneliness when he pats the empty sheets. A widow may notice the absence of her husband most when she walks into family gatherings alone. A child whose parents died when they were young can feel the awkwardness of aloneness when their peers complain about their own parents and their restrictive rules. These are just a few of the scenarios that play out in the lives of people every day. Whether it’s labeled as loneliness, empty nest, grief, or sadness, it can also be called abandonment. Not all abandonment is physical. Sometimes abandonment can happen even when someone is physically present. A husband can [...]
