My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1)
David experienced great suffering and pain in His life. However, these words ultimately describe the Son of David as they flowed from Jesus’ lips as He suffered on the cross for our salvation. He experienced the righteous wrath of God so that we would not taste it.
But Psalms 22 does not end there. The Afflicted One is ultimately not forsaken, for God “has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him” (v24). The story does not end with abandonment but victory including the worldwide worship of the once afflicted king (v27-28).
As we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus yesterday, be encouraged that your affliction and sense of abandonment is not the end. Because you are united to Christ, you are never alone, and the victory He won is yours as well. You too will share in the future reign of the Son as co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17). So as you look forward to the return of the King, enjoy and serve Him today.