FOR THE LORD COMFORTS

There are words in Chapter 49 that hurt my heart such as: For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones (v.13). Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken and forgotten me’. In reply, ‘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’….. As I write this next bit it becomes personal to me…I was bereaved and barren; …… I was exiled and rejected (Who brought these up?) I was left all alone, but these-where have they come from?’ An applicable thought of many parents today perhaps? Verse 22, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says. ‘See, I will beckon to the Gentiles-they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. Kings will be your foster fathers and their queens the nursing mothers’.

I kind of see this as a reminder that God will not forget us or our children, even those who are rejected, as he will place substitute parents in their lives. He tells us that we will know he is the Lord and those who hope in him will not be disappointed.

Having been pierced by rejection without compassion, by three of my adult children at their father’s death and as they chose not to attend, I can relate to being exiled in bereavement. I can relate to not being comforted. I can relate to the query ‘Who brought these up?’ and to feeling so alone.

Although the situation is much the same today I have been able to, with compassion, counsel many afflicted teens and other hurting hearts through God. My hope in him has not been disappointed and I pray this for you also. Part of Isaiah 49/25 reads; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. I accept this promise from him and believe. Will you? Ask for his comforting compassion daily. Know that he will never forsake or forget you. We seldom recognize our preciousness to the Lord and need to acknowledge it.

SEEK FREEDOM IN YOUR SPIRIT AND BE COMFORTED.

Be Blessed.

Lorraine