.....forget

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 Isaiah 49:15–16

A man was checking out a house he was interested in buying. When the owner came to the door, she looked at him and said, “Tom? I know you. We went to school together. I’m Susan. Don’t you recognize me?” He drew a complete blank. She disappeared for a moment, then came back with their old yearbook in hand. She pointed to her graduation photo — still nothing. Then she flipped the pages until she found his picture. Beneath it, he had written: “Susan, I will never forget you.”

There’s something humbling — and a little bit painful — about the way time affects our memory. This story is a reminder that no matter how sincere our promises may be, human memory is fragile. We forget names, faces, birthdays, and even people we once promised we would never forget. But here’s the good news: God’s memory doesn’t work like ours.

In Isaiah 49, God is speaking to his people who feel abandoned and forgotten. They cry out, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” v. 14. Can you relate to that? Have you ever had a moment when you wondered if God really sees you — if he still cares?

But God replies with one of the most tender and powerful images in all of Scripture -- even if a mother could forget her child (an unimaginable thing), God says, “I will not forget you.”

Then he adds something even more profound: “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” That’s not just a sentimental promise. It’s a declaration of commitment and love that cost Jesus his life. His scars are proof that he remembers you — not just in thought, but in action.

You are not forgotten. You are not overlooked. You are seen, known, and cherished — every single day. Even when life is quiet and you feel invisible, you are held in the hands of a God who cannot forget you.

Father, thank you for never forgetting me. Even when I feel unnoticed or alone, remind me that I am always on your heart. Help me to trust your constant love, even when I can’t always feel it. In Jesus’ name, amen.