God has not forgotten you

​But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;
    my Lord has forgotten me.”
“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.
 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.
​Isaiah 49:14-15

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your word. Through it you teach, exhort, bring comfort, and hope. Thank you for leaving us with this great treasure of knowledge containing the depths of your love for mankind. Open our minds to understand scripture and show us how to apply it in our lives. Lord, when our souls are disquieted within us, and the troubles of this world suffocate our faith so that we are not even strong enough to pray, how often do we cry: "Lord, where are you that you do not hear me, that you do not answer me?!" We find ourselves as orphans, lonely, helpless, alone. But you, in your infinite goodness, come and tell us that: even if a mother abandons her son and forgets him, you will not forget us.

​This truth brings joy and rest to the racing heart, it keeps hope alive.

It's comforting to know that we are not alone in our trials. Asaph, in Psalms 77 has a moment of despair before the lord saying: "You don't let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! ... ... Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will He never again be kind to me? Is His unfailing love gone forever?" But then, he remembers all that the Lord had already done for him. He meditated on all of the Lord's mighty works and he was reminded that the Lord is good. "But then, I recall all you have done, oh Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

God is with us, both here and for all eternity. The Bible says He is before us and He is behind us and nothing can snatch us out of His hands. Meditating on His word in times of trials is the very best thing you can do to lift yourself up from the fog of agony. Like Asaph said he could not stop thinking about the Lord's mighty works. Think about it, meditate on it. Let it infiltrate your whole being and you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

When sadness, loneliness or despair try to bring you down, remember what Jesus told us: "Behold, I am with you always day to day, to the end of the world." Mt 28:20 Let this promise echo in your ears, penetrating deeply your inner man, warming and detoxifying your soul, as the psalmist did when he asked: "Why are you discouraged, O my soul, and why are you troubled in me? Wait on God, for I will yet praise Him. He is my health and my God. "Psalm 42:11 

​The Lords' mercies are new every morning! Everyday a new sunrise awakens us bringing joy and refreshment to our souls. Trust in Him. He has not forgotten you.

​"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in it's wings, and you will frolic like well fed calves" 
​Malachi 4:2

Peace! doubting heart, my God's I am,
Who formed me man, forbids my fear; 
The Lord has called me by my name;
The Lord protects, forever near;
His blood for me did once atone,
And yet He loves and guards His own.
-E.M. Bounds-