Down But Not Forgotten

I have been attending the Allies Retreat with Timberline Church men today. This morning, I shared some of the lessons I have learned and observations from my illness and recovery. There were several men in attendance and I received some positive feedback. Our guest speaker Joe Jackson was very kind in his words and what my story meant to him.

After our morning sessions, I ran into my doctor from Northern Colorado Acute Hospital. He was here with another church for their men’s retreat. This afternoon he was baptized in water at the pool here at the YMCA camp. I then had the opportunity to play some miniature golf with a group of men. The rain cut short our game, but I was getting pretty fatigued and need to get some rest.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… But the people of Jerusalem said, “The Lord has abandoned us! He has forgotten us.”…..So the Lord answers….I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”             Isaiah 49:14,16

God’s people suffered captivity for 70 years due to their rebellion and idolatry. This was a difficult time, but one in which we see God using His people. People like Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah and many others. While God’s people as a whole had forsaken the Lord and were suffering the consequences, there were those whose hearts remained faithful to the Lord and God used them to influence a godless nation and to work to save His people and restore them to their land.

During times of difficulty it is easy to view ourselves and our lives as “forgotten by God.” The questions and anguish can plague our minds, “God where are you?” “Why is this happening?” “When will this end?”

That is where God’s people were. But at the moment when they felt the most forsaken, it was at that time God was preparing to act and to begin the process of restoring them to their homeland and coming to their rescue. God’s prophet reminds the people that they are not only on God’s mind, they are on “God’s hand.”

Have you ever used your hand as a “note pad”? Some one is giving you a name or number and you take out your pen and write on the palm of your hand? Probably many of us have. And in doing that there is a sense of confidence that, “I won’t forget or lose the number, see! I have it right here!”

Some translations use the word, “engraved.” “I have you engraved on the palm of my hand.” Talk about an imagery of permanency. That’s like a tattoo.  Such is the degree to which God is aware of us, even in our trial and times of anguish. Before this the Lord is very vivid when he says, through the prophet,Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. (Isa. 49:15)

What should be our response? It is important to recognize that in the midst of our trial, test or suffering the Lord is aware of what we are going through. Pray something like this, “Lord, I know that you are aware of my suffering and even when I feel like you have forgotten about me, you have not. Would you bring your encouragement and assistance to me today by your sovereign work or through some person or circumstance to reveal yourself and  your care to me?”

I believe that kind of prayer or something like it, is one that the Lord will honor. When I share my story, I tell people that if we have a very narrow definition of God’s care and intervention we will be disappointed, discouraged and miss seeing God in our situation. For, me it was the Lord giving wisdom to the doctors. It was a visit from a friend, card or a phone call. It was the faithfulness and support of my wife and children. These are the types of expressions that the Lord used to encourage me and to let me know that I was not forgotten but I “was written on the palm of His hand.”

In your life, you may feel forgotten or abandon, but you are never outside of God’s care, as you place your life in His hands and trust in Him.