Aug 1 - God Cannot Forget You

Read Isaiah 49:14-16

Context: This is from the second part of Isaiah, the Book of Comfort, talking about the restoration of Israel after the fall.

Text:
14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me."
15 "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!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
17 Your sons hasten back,
and those who laid you waste depart from you.
18 Lift up your eyes and look around;
all your sons gather and come to you.
As surely as I live," declares the LORD,
"you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever called a close friend or relative, only to get their answering machine? You left a message, but they never called you back. At first you got worried that something had happened, then you just got frustrated at them and wondered if they cared. Some days it seems like my prayers go directly to God's answering machine...

"press 1 for health issues, 2 for travel safety, 3 for problems with your children, 4 if you want more stuff...leave a message, someone will get back to you in 24 hours, but do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8). Have a blessed day."

It's easy to think that God has forgotten us and doesn't really care about our problems, but take heart in these verses...not only does he remember you, your name is carved on his hand so he can see it each time he opens his palm! He's there and he hears you, whether you sense his presence or not. So don't give up...he'll respond at the exact right time.