“Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.
Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.”
(Psalm 119:153-154 NIV)
This past week we had guest ministers in to do a three day series of meetings at church. The weekend was phenomenal, filled with worship, teaching, wisdom, prayer, and great encouragement. I’m still processing the weekend, trying to glean the “nuggets,” and haven’t sat down to write it all down. However, one story stands out.
The woman guest minister had gone to a group home/orphanage for teens who were neglected and abused. She was spending one-on-one time with the girls, talking to them, praying with them, giving them words of comfort and encouragement. She came to one teenage girl who was really not interested in talking or being prayed over, but finally and reluctantly acquiesced. The minister’s first words were, “Daughter, God has not forgotten you…” and she intended to go on praying over the girl. But suddenly the girl collapsed in sobs. The minister had no idea of the girl’s story or what had upset her so quickly and so severely until the girl pushed up the arm of her sweatshirt. On that arm she had carved into her flesh the word, “FORGOTTEN.”
I was floored. I can only begin to imagine the pain and suffering this girl had endured – so much so that carving into her arm was a way of alleviating some of the pain. Whatever abuse or neglect she had suffered before coming to that home, she believed deeply that God had forgotten her.
Most of us may not have such a dramatic story of feeling forgotten, but on some smaller level we can probably identify with the feelings of having no one there for you – not even God. Loneliness is hard for us humans because God created us to be in community with him and with others. Having no “others” and feeling God is too distant to be any help can make us feel we are forgotten. Having extremely trying circumstances or even crisis or trauma can lead to isolation, loneliness, and even that “forgotten” feeling. That’s why we have to remind ourselves over and over that God will never leave us or forsake us. Never. It’s not in his nature. In fact, he tells us to be strong, courageous, unafraid, and encouraged. Why? Because, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
No matter what you are facing, no matter how deep the pain, you are never forgotten.
Lord God,
Thank you for going before us, for being with us, and for never leaving or forsaking us. Help us to remember this when we feel lonely or forgotten, and help us be mindful of others who need our love, encouragement, strength, and comfort. Defend us and redeem us; preserve our lives according to your promise and for the glory of your name. We pray in Christ’s name, Amen.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NIV)