God Will Never Forget You
A Devotional Study in Isaiah 49:15
Maybe you've done something so terrible that you believe God
cannot possibly love you. God has etched the names of his children on the palms
of his hands. Our names are permanently cut into God’s own flesh - they are
ever in front of his eyes. He can never forget His children - God longs to be
our main source of comfort in times of loneliness and loss.
Once we experience God in our loneliest place — the place where we feel most
abandoned by humans — we begin to comprehend that He is always there. He has
always been there - His love and comfort surround us no matter where we go.
Deep, soul-crushing loneliness is often the very experience that draws us back
to God or closer to Him when we drift away. He is with us through the long dark
night of the soul. "I will never forget you," He whispers to us.
By Mary Fairchild
Isaiah 49:15 illustrates the greatness of God’s love for us.
While it’s extremely rare for a human mother to abandon her
newborn baby, we know it’s possible because it happens.
But, it is not possible for our Heavenly Father to forget
or fail to fully love his children.
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have
no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not
forget you." (ESV)
God's Promise
Almost everyone experiences times in life when they feel utterly
alone and abandoned.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God makes a
tremendously comforting promise.
You may feel completely forgotten by every human being in your
life, but God will not forget you: "Even if my father and mother
abandon me, the Lord will hold me close" (Psalm 27:10,
NLT).
The Image of God
The Bible says humans were created in the image of God (Genesis
1:26–27).
Since God created us male and female, we know there are both
masculine and feminine aspects to God’s character.
In Isaiah 49:15, we see the heart of a mother in the
expression of God’s nature.
A mother’s love is often considered the strongest and finest in
existence.
God’s love transcends even the best this world can offer.
Isaiah portrays Israel as a nursing child in her mother’s arms —
arms that represent God's embrace.
The child is wholly dependent on his mother and trusts that he
will never to be forsaken by her.
In the next verse, Isaiah 49:16, God says, “I have engraved
you on the palms of my hands.”
The Old Testament high priest bore the names of the
tribes of Israel on his shoulders and over his heart (Exodus
28:6–9).
These names were engraved on jewels and attached to the priest’s
clothing.
But God has etched the names of his children on the palms of his
hands.
In the original language, the word “engraved” used here means “to cut into.”
Our names are permanently cut into God’s own flesh. They are
ever in front of his eyes. He can never forget his children.
God longs to be our main source of comfort in times of loneliness and loss.
Isaiah 66:13 confirms that God loves us like a compassionate and
comforting mother: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.”
Psalm 103:13 restates that God loves us like a compassionate and
comforting father: "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender
and compassionate to those who fear him."
Over and over the Lord says, "I, the Lord, made you, and
I will not forget you." (Isaiah 44:21)
Nothing Can Separate Us
Maybe you've done something so terrible that you believe God
cannot possibly love you.
Think about the unfaithfulness of Israel. No matter how
treacherous and disloyal she had been, God never forgot his covenant of love.
When Israel repented and turned back to the Lord, he always
forgave her and embraced her, like the father in the story of the prodigal son.
Read these words in Romans 8:35–39 slowly and carefully. Let the
truth in them permeate your being:
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean
he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or
hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ... No, despite
all these things ... I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from
God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our
fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can
separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth
below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the
love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Now here’s a thought-provoking question: is it possible that God
allows us to experience times of bitter loneliness so that
we discover his comfort, compassion, and faithful presence?
Once we experience God in our loneliest place — the place where
we feel most abandoned by humans — we begin to comprehend that he is always
there.
He has always been there. His love and comfort surround us no
matter where we go.
Deep, soul-crushing loneliness is often the very experience that
draws us back to God or closer to Him when we drift away.
He is with us through the long dark night of the soul. "I
will never forget you," he whispers to us.
Let this truth uphold you. Let it sink in deep. God will never
forget you.
Mary
Fairchild
Christianity
Expert
Education
General
Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center
Introduction
Christian
minister since 1988 with General Biblical Studies and Missions degrees
Full-time
writer and editor specializing in Christianity, Bible study, and Christian
living since 2005
Author
and general editor of "Stories of Calvary"
Experience
Mary
Fairchild has worked full time in Christian ministry since 1988. While in Bible
School, she worked for a major city church as the assistant to the dean of
Christian education. Next, Mary served on the foreign mission field in Brazil
from 1990-1994. Upon returning to the States, Mary became a pastoral assistant
and office manager for a large intercity church.
Mary
worked as the general editor on several Christian books and booklets for
Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. Recently, Mary joined the
team of writers for GotQuestions.org, where she provides responses to
questions related to the nature of God, the Scriptures, salvation, and
other spiritual topics.
Education
Mary
received a General Biblical Studies degree from an Interdenominational
Christian Training Center in Central Florida. She also holds a Missions degree
from Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School.
Publications
"Stories
of Calvary" (2008, Winepress Publishing)
"Exposing
Samson" (General Editor, 2009, Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg)
A
Message from Mary Fairchild
As
a writer, my greatest passion is to study and expound on the Word of God.
I’ve made it my goal to offer practical, applicable resources for living the
Christian faith with authenticity in today's world. Inspired by the words
of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12, I’ve adopted this purpose:
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
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Religions and Dotdash
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