After being hit by a car, Thomas lost his entire memory. Aged twenty, he had to re-learn—with much grit and determination—how to read and write. He succeeded, but years later he still struggles to remember. Each time he resumes the story he’s writing, he needs five notebooks to remind himself of the details. Although he may “struggle to keep tabs on things”, he has worked out a system to prompt and refresh his memory. When ten publishers engaged in a bidding war for his children’s adventure book, the triumph was both surprising and delightful—Thomas was elated!
We too may experience memory lapses, although perhaps not on the scale that Thomas does. In stark contrast, our Creator promises us that He remembers us and everything about us. In the hopeful words that God spoke through Isaiah, He affirmed to His people: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). God was responding to their accusation that He had forsaken and forgotten them (v. 14). He assured them even further: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (v. 16).
We can renew our hope in God with confidence, with His help holding onto His promises that He will always hold us in His mind and heart. He will never forget us. Never.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
How do you respond to the image of God being like a mother who cannot forget her children? What does it mean to you be inscribed on the palms of God’s hands?
Loving God, thank You for knowing everything about me and loving me wholeheartedly. Help me to put my full trust in You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The prophet Isaiah’s name means “Salvation is of the Lord,” which summarizes his emphasis in the book on prophecies about Christ. Isaiah also portrays God as the God of comfort. We see this theme particularly throughout the later chapters of Isaiah (chs. 40–66). In today’s passage (49:14–19), we see God’s assurance that He won’t forget or abandon His people (Israel and the church). In 43:1–2 , God says He walks with us through our trials and gives us this assurance: “I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” In 44:21–24, God declares, “I will not forget you” and reminds us He “formed [us] in the womb.” In 46:4, He promises, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.” And finally, in 66:13, He assures us, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.”
Alyson Kieda
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