Remembered

 “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people,
   and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

¹⁴ But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
   my Lord has forgotten me.’ ¹⁵ Can a woman forget her nursing-child,
   or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
   yet I will not forget you. ¹⁶ See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;”

Isaiah 49:13-16a

During the time that this portion of the book of Isaiah was written, the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon.  They  had been moved against their will, were far from home for a long time, and they felt far from God and forgotten. 

Yesterday we talked some about difficult days  in our health struggles.  One of the things I find when I’m in a rough phase is the sense of being forgotten.  It can seem that the whole rest of the world is moving on while I struggle through a rough time.  I can feel very far away from everyone else, and even far from God.

The rest of the world is used to illness being resolved in a week to ten days, or perhaps lingering a bit longer while taking antibiotics to get rid of it.  There is a beginning, middle and ending we are used to with illness.  Chronic illness, depression, PTSD, cancer treatments and undiagnosed symptoms do not resolve quickly.  It is like living in the middle of the illness for an extended period of time, and often the ending time may not be easily in sight.   On rough days, it may easily seem like being in exile.

But just as God did not forget Israel in Babylon, neither does God forget us while we are in the midst of illness.  These words from Isaiah speak tenderly to our hearts “The Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his suffering ones.”  We hear God described as even more intimate with us and mindful of the dear ones, than even a mother with an infant. 

“Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”  Depression, pain, fatigue, trauma, nightmares, chemo and radiation, lightheadedness, nausea, and lack of mobility can never cause God to forget about us. On the contrary, as a loving parent tends to a sick child, God watches over us.

The God who has “inscribed” us on the palms of his hand keeps us ever before him, and knows what we face from day to day, moment to moment.  These tender verses remind Israel  they are in the forefront of God’s thoughts, and they speak through the centuries to assure us we are ever before God’s eyes.

Today, no matter what you are facing, consider these words. What does it mean for you today to know  God remembers you, right now, just as you are? 

It is true.  You are remembered.

Tender, compassionate God, help us to know with confidence today that you intimately know us, and are watchful with your loved ones, no matter what we are facing.  Thank you for this amazing and life-giving assurance.  Amen.