Has God forgotten me?

My son has been waking up at night with terrible nightmares. Most mornings he doesn’t want to talk about them. Sometimes just saying he doesn’t want to sleep because it’s scary.

As his mom, I always feel so helpless, as I can’t physically protect him from bad dreams. So prayer is my weapon of choice.

A few nights ago as I was praying for my son before bed, I said something along the lines of, “I pray that You would protect his mind as he sleeps and that he has happy dreams tonight and that he remembers he is safe because You are always here with him. Amen.”

There was a long silence after I said ‘amen’.

“Mom”? Oliver said, speaking half to me and half into his pillow.

“The nights when I have my scary dreams…..are those…is that the nights when….is that the nights when God forgets about me?”

I felt my stomach drop.

“Oh honey, God could NEVER forget about you!” I blurted out into the darkness.

My heart felt so sad.

Both sad at the fact my son felt forgotten by God, and sad that he doesn’t yet have the peace that comes from knowing and believing the character of God.

“It may feel like it at times, but one thing we know to be true is that God simply CANNOT forget about us! It’s not in His character! It’s not who He is.”

My heart hurt to hear my son verbalize his greater fear that night. That maybe, just maybe, God forgets about him sometimes.

As I spoke those words aloud I thought to myself, “I’m so glad I know God’s character and don’t ever have to worry that He’s forgotten me.”

But the question lingered on in my mind, long after Oliver fell asleep.

“Has God forgotten me?”

Yes. I do know the character of God.

Yes. I do know that He cannot ever forget me.

But do I really believe that God hasn’t forgotten me?

Perhaps I’m just not as brave as my son to say it out loud, but if I’m being honest with myself, in so many ways I’m asking the same question- Has God forgotten about me?

As adults we get pretty good at folding our questions and doubts into neat little origami so it distracts others from seeing how scared we really are, and keeps us from taking each fear and frustration back to the Lord.

So many people I love are hurting, hopeless and heading into dark places. The world, as it has since the fall, is full of sin and darkness and brokenness. And yet, in this season of waiting, this advent season, it feels particularly dark. Particularly scary. Particularly nightmare-ish.

Our hearts long for the light of the world to come and make all things new. To bring order to this chaos. To bring rest to the weary. To bring His shalom. But is He coming? Has he forgotten us?

“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! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your children hasten back and those who laid you waste depart from you.” Isaiah 49:15 -17

How can we know that we know that we know that God hasn’t forgotten us?

Jesus.

Jesus is God’s awesome declaration that He has not and cannot forget us. He remembered His promise to rescue humanity from sin and darkness.

Through his humble birth, perfect life, death on a cross and glorious resurrection, He has NOT forgotten us. We are engraved on His hands.

We see the pattern in scripture over and over again of people at their end. Crying out to God. Despairing over the state of their lives. Then we read, “God remembered ______.” (Genesis 19:29, Exodus 2:24, Genesis 8:1)

Because of Jesus, there is hope!

Because of Jesus you can fill in the blank with YOUR name.

When all hope seemed lost. When life was hard. When I just couldn’t see how this would ever change….God remembered ___________.

So stand up, remembered children of God. Throw off the heavy blanket of sin and darkness and recall to mind once again God’s faithfulness. Stand up, remembered children of God and partner with Him in the work He has called us to as co-laborers.

Be still before Him, listen to His voice, recall to mind His character and faithfulness. Then walk forward in serving others, loving well, and speaking truth in the face of lies. And when the sun has set and the work is done, sleep well, dear ones. Take your rest. God has NOT forgotten you.