The promise that God will never leave us nor forsake us is incredibly comforting and empowering for followers of Christ. This promise, found in Hebrews 13:5, assures believers that God will always be present with them no matter what circumstances or challenges they face.
To fully understand the meaning of this verse, it’s important to understand the context. The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution for their faith in Christ. As a result, they were tempted to abandon their hope in Christ and revert back to traditional Judaism. The writer of Hebrews encourages these believers to persevere in the faith by pointing them to the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.
In chapter 13, the author gives some final practical exhortations to live out the Christian faith. Hebrews 13:5 comes right after an exhortation to avoid loving money and be content with what they have (Hebrews 13:5). The writer then quotes from Deuteronomy 31:6 which says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” This verse in Deuteronomy was spoken by Moses to Joshua as he was about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. God promised to go before them and be with them as they took possession of the land.
By quoting this verse from Deuteronomy, the writer of Hebrews reminds believers that just as God promised to be with Joshua and the Israelites, He also promises to always be with us. Even when we face difficulty, persecution, trials or are unsure of what the future holds, we can be confident that God will never abandon or neglect us. Just as He was faithful to His people then, He will be faithful to us now.
A Reassuring Promise of God’s Presence
When God says “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” first and foremost it’s a promise that He will always be present with us. As believers in Christ, we are given the permanent, continual presence of God in our lives through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that after His ascension, He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16). God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that He will never revoke the Holy Spirit from us. We permanently have God’s presence within us when we place our faith in Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
God’s continual presence is meant to give us strength, comfort, and encouragement especially in difficult times. The psalmist describes God as an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). There is tremendous security in knowing God is always with us watching over and protecting us. We never have to feel abandoned or on our own as Christians.
Jesus specifically promised the disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5 is a restatement of Christ’s promise to be with believers forever. Christ will never abandon His followers even until His return. The knowledge of God’s continual presence should motivate us to boldly obey Him and live for Him (Matthew 28:19-20).
A Promise of God’s Loyal Love and Care
Not only does God promise His presence, but also His loyal love and care over our lives. The language “I will never leave you nor forsake you” means that God pledges to stay faithfully committed to us. The word “forsake” in Greek implies abandoning someone completely. God promises He will never abandon or withdraw His steadfast love towards us. He demonstrates complete loyalty and devotion to His people.
This same promise of God’s faithfulness and love is seen multiple times in Scripture. The psalmist declares that even if a mother could forget her nursing child, God would still not forget His people and would show compassion (Psalm 27:10; Isaiah 49:15). Over and over the psalms speak of God’s unfailing love that continues forever (Psalm 136). Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful because He cannot disown Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
Knowing that God pledges to never abandon us in any circumstance is incredibly comforting. Not even our own shortcomings and failures can separate us from God’s committed love (Romans 8:38-39). God brings reassurance through this promise that no matter what we walk through in life, His care and affection towards us as His beloved children will never falter.
A Call to Trust in God’s Provision
This promise in Hebrews 13:5 is also meant to instill greater trust that God will provide for all our needs. After exhorting believers not to love money, the writer quotes this passage from Deuteronomy 31:6 which continues, “He [God] will not leave you or forsake you…He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” God’s continual presence results in faithful provision.
As with Joshua and the Israelites when they trusted God to help them take the Promised Land, we too can trust that God will supply what we need to follow and serve Him. Jesus taught that if God clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the air, how much more will He provide for us, His children (Luke 12:22-32). We never have to worry or fear not having provision because God promises to be with us.
This promise is meant to free us from anxiety and the need to rely on our own resources. When we believe God will never leave us, we can more confidently trust Him to care for us. Our security comes from God’s presence, not our material possessions or financial stability. We can fix our eyes on the eternity God promises rather than the temporary provisions of this world (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Fulfilled Through Christ
While God spoke similar promises throughout the Old Testament, the fullest demonstration of His pledge to never leave nor forsake His people is seen through Christ. When Jesus came to earth, He made God’s presence tangible and visible in an unprecedented way (John 1:14). Christ perfectly displayed God’s loyal love and care for His people by sacrificing Himself for them. He promised to always be with His followers, leaving them with the Holy Spirit when He ascended to heaven.
The incarnation of Christ gives us confidence that God truly understands our struggles and weaknesses because Jesus experienced the same (Hebrews 4:15-16). We never have to go through anything alone because Christ lives within us, promising to never leave us. When we waiver in our faith, He remains steadfast. When we feel distant from God, Christ draws near.
God proved His commitment to humanity by sending His own Son. If He did not spare His own Son, we can trust He will provide and care for us in all things (Romans 8:32). The promise that God will never leave us finds its ultimate fulfillment in Immanuel, “God with us”, Jesus Christ.
Cultivates Trust and Obedience
This profoundly comforting promise of God’s presence and care is meant to cultivate greater trust and obedience from believers. When we know God is always with us, we can more confidently step out in faith rather than shrink back in fear. His presence empowers our obedience.
This promise comes right after an exhortation to remember those in prison as if we were fellow prisoners and to honor marriage (Hebrews 13:3-4). Even in hard circumstances like imprisonment, we can honor God’s calling on our lives knowing He will never leave us. For the original audience facing persecution, this promise was meant to embolden their faithfulness to Christ in the face of trial and suffering.
The knowledge that God will never forsake us compels us to draw nearer to Him. Since He is always with us through His Spirit, we should seek to glorify Him through how we live (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The security we find in His presence frees us from the control of fear and comforts us to live fully for Him.
A Truth to Meditate On
Because our feelings often conflict with the truth of Scripture, God calls us to meditate on His word day and night (Psalm 1:2). Though we may go through periods when we feel abandoned by God, we must reaffirm this promise that He will never leave us. His presence is not dependent on our perception.
We all face seasons of doubt, despair, and fear. That is why we must sink the roots of our faith into the bedrock promise of God’s loyalty and devotion. Rather than trusting our fluctuating emotions, we must choose to believe the character and promises of God. Though we are unfaithful, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
Meditating on this promise builds our trust in God’s love and care for us. It stabilizes our faith when everything around us feels shaky. The promise that God will never leave us reaches down into our deepest places of insecurity and speaks resounding truth – we are never alone.
A Promise for All God’s People
While this promise was originally spoken to Jewish Christians enduring persecution, it extends to all believers across all time. Every follower of Christ for the past 2000 years has clung to this word from God – He will never leave us. Whether we face persecution, sickness, depression, poverty, or heartbreak, this promise remains true.
God does not say He will only be present with us until a certain struggle or until we sin. His promise has no limits or conditions. It covers every moment of our lives from the day we first believed until the day we go home to be with Him. Nothing can separate us from His steadfast love (Romans 8:38-39).
As believers we can feel confident handing every area of our lives over to God – our safety, livelihood, family, and future knowing He will faithfully care for us. Each of us can insert our name into this promise, “I, _______, will never leave you nor forsake you.” Our security is in our Savior who promises to never abandon His people.
A Promise We Can Live By
While God’s promise to never leave us is meant to comfort us, it’s also meant to radically shape how we live each day. This promise frees us from crippling anxiety about the future or despair in difficult circumstances. It instills boldness to follow God wherever He leads us and say yes to His call.
Rather than chase after worldly security and comfort, this promise empowers us to live with radical abandon for Christ. We can confidently obey Him, serve others, and share the Gospel knowing God goes with us. His presence is our true security.
This promise also motivates us to live each day with gratitude and reverence, recognizing Christ lives within us (Colossians 1:27). We can exude joyful hope knowing He will never leave us. Our lives should reflect to the world that God is with us always.
Every morning we can claim the truth – the Lord is with us. Every night we can rest in His care – He will never leave us. This powerful promise changes how we live!
An Anchor for Our Souls
The author of Hebrews explains that God’s promises provide “a strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:18-19). As an anchor steadies a ship amidst crashing waves, God’s promises stabilize believers amidst tumultuous times.
Life is filled with storms – trials that thrash our faith back and forth. Our souls can easily drift unless anchored to God’s unchanging truth. When turbulent circumstances tempt us to doubt God’s goodness, we must anchor down into the bedrock of His promises.
This specific promise that God will never leave us serves as an anchor for our souls. When grief and pain attempt to shred our sails, we drop anchor into this truth – God is with us and He is faithful. His presence comforts us and overwhelms our fears. He is our security in the most violent storms.
A Promise We Can Cling To
God makes many great and precious promises throughout Scripture. But this specific promise holds unique power for followers of Christ. To say “God will never leave me nor forsake me” brings comfort and courage like few other declarations from God’s Word.
This promise can be personalized and clung to in our weakest moments. It can be proclaimed in our darkest nights. It can be memorized and meditated on daily. These words have the power to lift us from the depths of despair and set us on solid ground. No matter how unsteady we feel, God’s presence remains steady and certain.
When loneliness floods our souls, we hold fast – “He will never leave me.” When anxiety grips our hearts, we declare boldly – “He will never forsake me.” When grief and pain are overwhelming, we cry out – “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear!” (Hebrews 13:5-6). God’s presence shines brightest in our deepest valleys.
The Reward of God’s Presence
The author of Hebrews says that by persevering through trials as believers we get to share in Christ’s sufferings in order that we “may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). Being partakers in Christ’s suffering deepens our experience of God’s presence.
The times we feel most alone and abandoned are often the times God feels nearest. When we persevere, the reward is a richer enjoyment of God’s presence. As we walk through the valley, He shepherds us closer. Our awareness of God’s nearness grows in proportion to the struggle we endure.
Every tear shed with God is a seed sown for deeper joy in His presence. As we cling to the promise that He is with us in brokenness and pain, it springs up into praise that He never left. The darkness makes His light shine brighter. This promise is the lens we can look through to see God with us even now.
The Ultimate Proof of God’s Presence
While God promises His continual presence through the Spirit, Scripture also tells us of a coming day when His presence will be perfectly unhindered. When Christ returns, He will completely destroy evil, sin, and all their effects. Death and suffering will be eradicated once and for all.
The book of Revelation paints a beautiful picture of this coming reality. God will make His dwelling place physically among His people on the new earth. “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). Unbroken fellowship and intimacy with God awaits us for eternity!
Until that glorious day, we await the fulfillment of God’s promise that nothing will ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He has pledged to complete the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6). The God who promises never to leave us has gone to prepare an eternal dwelling for us with Him (John 14:2-3). We can find hope and courage till then in His presence within us.
A Certain Hope
The promise that God will never leave us nor forsake us provides incredible hope and comfort for followers of Christ. No matter what storms may come, God remains steadily at our side. His presence faithfully upholds us.
We never have to fear being abandoned or doubted by God. His love and care for His children remains constant. He can always be found when we seek Him. Though our hearts may doubt God’s nearness, He promises that He is with us always even to the end of the age.
As we meditate on this incredible promise, we gain courage to boldly follow Christ and step out in obedience. Our security is not found in freedom from storms, but in the One who remains steadfast through them. He will never leave us. He will never forsake us. He will never fail us. Our hope is secure in Him.