Has The Lord Forsaken Me?

“Yes Jerusalem says, ‘The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us. Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand.”

In Isaiah 49:14 we read the lament we often feel but rarely put voice to: “The Lord has deserted me; the Lord has forgotten me.” Allowing himself the freedom to express the lament opens the Psalmist to hear the Lord’s response: “Never!” The question is then posed to the Psalmist and to us: “Can a mother can forget her nursing child?” A mother would answer emphatically as the Lord did — Never! Having nursed three children, I appreciate this question. The Lord shows great honor for the love a mother has for a child and the privilege of nursing. Even if our minds and hearts would allow us to forget the dependent baby (which we know would not happen), our bodies would not let us forget. God designed our bodies so we could not forget that child, especially at feeding time. At that time, there is nothing we can do BUT nurse and care for that baby!

That is how precious we are to God. Everything in him remembers us, cares for us, longs for us. Could he forget the one he loves so much? Never! To drive the point even deeper into our hearts, the Lord reminds us that our names are engraved on the palm of his hand. When my son has something he absolutely cannot forget, he puts a reminder on his hand. The message on Chase’s hand signifies a priority in his life.

The name on the Lord’s hand signifies a priority in his life — you are that priority! You may not feel that way right now, but every time God looks down, he sees your name. Your name is ever before him, engraved into his skin, his being. There is no way that God could or would forget you.

Do you see your value? Do you see the deep and perfect love of the Father for you? You can never walk in the abundant life until you realize you are loved by the heavenly Father. There is no love greater, no love that will ever meet the deep needs of your heart outside of this love of the Father for you. Far too often, it is this love that we reject. We feel unworthy of love from the King. In fact, I think we often feel we deserve to be rejected, abandoned or forgotten. That has happened before by people we trusted, people like our parents, our spouses, our friends. That pain of abandonment or rejection is deep. Satan plants the lie that is what we deserve, who we are.

The Lord wants to cast out that lie and plant his truth — you are known; you are accepted; and you are loved. See, the Lord is not like your parents, your spouse, your friends. His truth, His promises will never change! His love is perfect and cannot change.

Will you choose to accept this perfect love of the heavenly Father today? Are you willing to look at His hands to see your name? Whether you choose to look or not, your name is there. God’s love is there.

Choose life, abundant life, by choosing to live and believe in God’s love for you. Your name is engraved on the palms of His hands!