I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU!!

By Helen Jesze, 4^th February 2022

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

Psalm 13:1, 2+5 ESV

“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 49:15+16 ESV

One morning, my late husband, George, woke up with the following words ringing in his spirit:

“I have not forgotten you!”

He knew the Lord was speaking to him at a time when he was fighting discouragement and depression. What an enormous encouragement it was. Yes, God had not forgotten us. He knew all the difficult circumstances we were facing. Unlike ours, his memory never fails. Just as Isaiah the prophet said, our names are engraved on the palms of his hands. When he stretches out an arm, there they are to remind him! We are not forgotten!

David the shepherd boy and later king of Israel was mourning over all the difficulties he was facing, and cried to the Lord. He felt God had abandoned him and cast him off, filling his heart with sorrow – how long would this go on, forever?! He saw and heard how his enemies were rejoicing over his downfall. But then he remembered God’s goodness and loving-kindness to him in the Past and he broke through into praise. If he had gone according to his feelings, he might not have praised but he made the quality decision which involved his will –“I will sing to the Lord”.

There are several places in the Bible which tell us that God remembered people.

“The LORD graciously remembered and visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for her as He had promised.”

Genesis 21:1 AMP

In her old age, the barren Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the son of the Promise.

“Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.”

Genesis 30: 22 NLT

Barren Rachel gave birth to Joseph, whom God used mightily to save multitudes from dying.

Also in 1 Samuel 1:19 we read how God “remembered Hannah” and gave her a son, who would become the prophet Samuel.

When God remembers us, he will turn our barrenness into fruitfulness, our sorrow into joy.

“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark.”

Genesis 8:1 NIV

“And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” Exodus 2:24 He then provided a deliverer to bring his Covenant people out of slavery.

“You have remembered me, O God,” said Daniel; “you have not forsaken those who love you,”

Daniel 14:38

These are a few examples of God remembering. We may think that if “God remembered”, then he must have forgotten these people before. No, that is not the case. It rather means that God’s time had come to move on this person’s behalf, the conditions had been fulfilled which he had required. We see an example of this in Joseph’s life, shut up unjustly in prison. He interpreted the butler’s dream and when he was freed, Joseph asked if he would remember him. But the butler forgot and Joseph had to wait another two years, before Pharaoh had his dreams. Then he said, “I know a Hebrew who can interpret your dreams.” Joseph was sent for, and because God gave him the interpretations, Joseph was catapulted from the prison-house to becoming Prime Minister of Egypt, in one day! God had not forgotten his servant! Genesis 40 and 41.

The only thing that God says he will NOT REMEMBER are the sins which we have repented of and confessed to him. This is marvellous news! He says:

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

Hebrews 8:12 KJV

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Satan and people would like to tell us that you have forgotten us, that we are not worth bothering about, for we have failed you so often. But your Word tells us that you have not forgotten us. Thank you for your faithful love. We encourage ourselves in you today. You know exactly where we are, all the circumstances we face and you have divine answers, strategies to give us victories. Touch us now with your Holy Spirit, quicken us and fill our hearts with the assurance that we are not forgotten! We praise your wonderful Name! Amen.