When we are tempted to doubt the love of God, all we need to do is look to the cross of Christ and remember that His love led Him there. Jesus endured the worst physical suffering imaginable—His hands and feet nailed to a crude implement of torture, His back flayed from the scourge of a soldier’s whip, and His head pierced by a thorn of crowns. But the Lord also endured another type of pain: “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)” (Matthew 27:46). Today’s devotional examines the tremendous sacrifice made when God the Father abandoned His Son.

This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way’s monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef’s gift to you.

If you would like more insight into today’s devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Seven Awesome Statements from the Cross, Part 4: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW