He’s Better Than We Thought

Let’s do a recap of this week’s Walk because we want to value what Abba is speaking to us. We’ll begin with the thought of abandonment. In dark moments of life, when pain and suffering seem unbearable, it's easy to wonder if why Abba has turned His back on us. This idea that Abba abandons us in our time of need is one of the most damaging theological misconceptions in American Christianity. But what if everything we thought we knew about Abba's abandonment was wrong?

There is a great misunderstanding of Abba’s nature and His relationship with Jesus on the cross. For so long, many have taught that when Jesus took on the sins of the world, Abba turned away from Him. The interpretation of Jesus’ words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" has led countless believers to fear abandonment from Abba in their troubling moments.

But let's take a closer look at what Jesus actually said and did leading up to the crucifixion. In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples that though they will scatter and leave him alone, "Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me." This declaration of Abba's faithfulness comes right before Jesus faces his greatest trial.

How then do we reconcile this with Jesus’ words on the cross? Pastor Tim shares with us on Sunday that Jesus was quoting Psalm 22, a psalm of David that begins in anguish but ends in victory and praise. Rather than a literal statement of abandonment, Jesus was identifying with our deepest suffering while still trusting in Abba's faithfulness.

The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:19 - "Abba was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." Even in that moment of apparent abandonment, the Father was present in the Son, working to restore all of creation to Himself. The idea that Abba turns away from sin is a misinterpretation; He cannot look on sin favorably, but His very nature is to draw near to those struggling in love.

This truth transforms how we view Abba and ourselves. If the Father never abandoned Jesus, even in His darkest hour, how much more will He remain with us through our dark hours? The name Emmanuel - "God with us" - is not just a phrase we say at Christmas time but the very essence of who Abba is and how He relates to us.

Abba entering into our misconceptions to correct them really comes through in Jesus. For three and a half years, Jesus walked among us, showing us the true nature of the Father. Every healing, every act of forgiveness, every moment of compassion was a revelation of Abba's heart. When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus' response was clear: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

The truth of this is incredible. It means that in our lowest moments, when we feel most alone and abandoned, He is there. It means that our mistakes and failures don't drive Him away but draw Him closer in love and grace. It means that the voice whispering "Abba has left you" is a lie, no matter how convincing it may seem.

This understanding of Abba's nature changes everything. It transforms how we approach prayer, how we view suffering, and how we relate to others. If He never abandons us, we can face our darkest fears with confidence. If He’s always working to reconcile and restore, we can trust Him even when we don't understand our circumstances.

In a world full of broken families and absent fathers, we are called to the steadfast love of our Abba. Just as He never turns His back on us, we are to remain faithful in our commitments, to love unconditionally, and to pursue reconciliation even when it's difficult.

The book of Malachi ends with a powerful prophecy: that Yahweh would "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers." This restoration of relationships is at the core of His redemptive work. It starts with us understanding and embracing the His heart towards us and then extending that same love to others.

This understanding of Abba's nature invites us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. It calls us to lay aside our fears of abandonment and rejection, and to run into the open arms of a Father who is always there, always loving, always working for our good.

So the next time you feel alone, remember: the Abba who was present with Jesus on the cross is present with you now. The One who entered into human history to correct our misconceptions is still at work, revealing His true nature to those who seek Him. And the Abba who promises to never leave or forsake us is inviting you into a deeper encounter of His unfailing love.