Today’s Verse
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
The Promise of Never
I’ve learned to be careful with the word “never.” Life has taught me that promises get broken, people change their minds, and circumstances shift in ways I can’t predict. What felt permanent yesterday might be gone tomorrow. So when someone says “never,” I listen with a bit of hesitation, waiting for the inevitable exception.
But when God says “never,” it means something different. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” No fine print. No conditions. No loopholes. No circumstances under which He might reconsider. Never means never.
It’s hard to always believe this, especially in our darkest moments. When we’ve failed again. When we feel unworthy. When circumstances make it seem like God has stepped back, even though He promised He wouldn’t. We feel like we’re alone. But God’s promise says otherwise.
Here’s what we need to remember: God’s presence isn’t based on our performance. He didn’t promise to stay as long as we get it right. He promised to never leave – period. He stayed with Job in unbearable suffering. With David after devastating sin. With Peter after public denial. He keeps this promise even when we fail.
This means we’re never truly alone, no matter how isolated we feel. Never abandoned, no matter how forgotten. Never forsaken, no matter how unworthy. God’s presence with us is permanent, not provisional.
Today, when loneliness whispers that you’re on your own, when failure tries to convince you God has given up, when circumstances feel overwhelming, remember this promise: He will never leave you. Never forsake you. His presence is the one constant you can always count on.
Today’s Prayer
Lord, You promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me, never abandon me, never turn Your back, never walk away no matter what I do or what happens.
Never is a powerful word, leaving no room for exceptions, no possibility of abandonment, no scenario where You might change Your mind and leave.
Teach me to believe this promise in my darkest moments, when I feel most alone, when circumstances make it seem like You’ve left even though You’ve promised You won’t.
People leave, relationships end, circumstances change, but You will never leave, never abandon, never forsake me regardless of what shifts around me.
Help me rest in the security of this promise, to stop living with fear of abandonment when You’ve guaranteed Your presence will never be withdrawn from me.
Remind me that You stayed with Job in his suffering, with David in his sin, with Peter after his denial, proving You keep this promise even when we fail.
Give me confidence that comes from knowing I can never be alone, never be abandoned, never be forsaken by the One who made this unbreakable promise.
Let me live today secure in Your promise, I will never leave you nor forsake you, anchored in presence that’s permanent, commitment that’s unshakeable, love that never leaves.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Art Print
If you’re interested in purchasing a wall art print of this piece you can find out more on my online store here. It’s available as an 8×10″ print on Hahnemuhle German Etching Paper.