Fully Secured

See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. 

(Isaiah 49:16, NKJV)

Have you ever experienced moments of isolation at any time in your life?  I confess that I have had such moments where it appears like it is just me versus the world.  The feeling of loneliness need not be long and it is not about the duration, it is about the awareness that you are going through something, seemingly all by yourself.  As believers we know that we always have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling in us, however, on a natural level, there are times when one struggles all alone.  I have found that there are  seasons when things are happening and I cannot even explain what I feel about it all to someone else.  The recognition that I do not have the words for the experience that is so personal to me, makes for a solitary moment.  God created us for connection and so the space of isolation could take away our strength.  The lesson I have learnt is that such lonely moments need not feel so bad, it might just be what I need to look deep within me and see the God who never leaves me.  The bible reminds us that God is a very present help especially in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). The reference to ‘present help’ tells me that God is a constant in my life, my strength and refuge.

 Our reference verse is one where Isaiah was reminding the children of Israel that God had not forgotten them.  Regardless of the issues they were experiencing, Isaiah draws a vivid picture for us, of being inscripted in the palm of the hand.  Taking the hand as we know it, we can draw helpful analogy -  when a palm is opened we see the full hand right before us and  when the palm is closed it keeps whatever it has held securely.  I like to think of that as my position in the palm of God’s hand.  Securely held together in His palm and proudly admired when He looks at His palm.  When He says that our walls are continually before Him, then our whole beings should forever be looking at His face.  That is constant and permanent love.  Indeed, there is nothing that could separate us from His love and presence (Romans 8: 38-39), even when we feel alone we are not alone for we are continually in His presence.  The verse preceding the one above presents us with a question whether a woman would forget her nursing child or not have compassion on her own offspring. 

 The bible continues to say, that there is a possibility that a nursing woman could forget her child but God would never forget His people (Isaiah 49:15).  Beloved, nursing mothers are so attached to their children as even their bodies respond to the needs of their child.  When a mother is nursing, the cry of her baby involuntarily prompts milk production, yet even with this, the bible says a woman could still forget the child, but God would never forget His people.  The reference to a nursing mother is to help us recognize how close God is to us and His commitment to always watch over His own.  He is a good parent, not to be compared to any other.  No wonder we are reminded elsewhere that if a father or mother forsakes a child, the Lord will take care of us (Psalm 27:10).  This is not to disparage parents, I see it as God emphasizing His promises and assurance of not only His presence but also His power to step in as our strength.  As a parent, I realize that I cannot do all what my children would ask for but God can do more than they can even imagine.  I take comfort that God is a Father to us all and He parents even those of us who are known as earthly parents.  Beloved, regardless of what moments we pass through, may we always be encouraged by God’s word that He will never leave us nor forsake us  and that He will help us (Hebrews 13:5-6).  This assurance takes away our fears of situations, securing us in the love of God eternal, He who not only created us but is committed to us.

 Thoughts:

 How have you handled moments of isolation?

 How have you experienced God in such moments?

 What has hindered your leaning closer to this ultimate love of God?