Being the middle child, I often felt as if nobody really knew my name. My older sister’s friends often referred to me as Mecia’s sister. I can’t begin to tell you how irritating I found that and then other times people would call me my mother’s daughter. Oh, how I wanted somebody, just anybody to realize that no I WAS NOT just Mecia’s sister or my mom’s daughter. In fact, my mother had given me a name. She called me Wanda. I wanted someone to know me as W A N D A. I had my own identity. Now that I have grown up and learned to make peace with my introversion, I am perfectly okay blending into the background. It’s no big deal if someone can not recall my name.
Even now family members or people in the neighborhood will call me by one of my sister’s name and I just grin and say hello. Honestly, I’m horrible at remembering names myself thus I typically refrain from using them unless I am entirely sure I know it. So if I pass you, and I don’t use your name but smile and talk to you cordially do me a favor and remind me of your name.
Feeling forgotten by those who should remember us is not a good feeling. Even worse is when we feel as if God has forgotten all about us.
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1 NLT
Have you had those seasons in life where you lamented like David, how long oh Lord?
It feels like you are on pause forgotten by God. You might me wondering how long:
- Before your dream becomes a reality
- Will those you are praying continue to resist
- Must you walk through the storm of financial trouble
- Before restoration comes to your relationship
God knows right where you are. Not just physically but mentally and emotionally. Are you weary, frazzled, fearful, or uptight from trying to carry and fix it all?
Let’s bring that to Jesus sister! There is a place of rest in Him.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
He REMEMBERS, He CARES, and He KNOWS
We are not promised a life of bliss but rather a God, who is present with us in and through our adversities. May you find comfort in the words of Isaiah 43:2 as I have, When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (emphasis mine)
This is a wonderfully encouraging post, Wanda–one I needed to hear concerning prayers for loved ones. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and God’s Word.
Glad you found it encouraging Pam. Hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend.
Oh, dear friend! How I enjoyed this post today! It was as if the dear Lord were speaking right through you to my heart. We just passed through one of those awful times when we felt God-forsaken. But, looking back now, we see that we never were, and God has opened the Red Sea and delivered us from the oppression we were under. I LOVE that the version you quoted called it the fire of oppression. That is surely where we have been, but that 4th Man was always in the fire with us, and He did not walk out a moment before we did…clinging always to His nail-scarred hand. I love and appreciate you, sweet sister, and thank you for sharing what God has placed upon your heart here.
Cheryl, my apologies for the late reply somehow your comment ending up in the spam/trash bin. Not sure what’s going on with that. Thank you for sharing your testimony of God’s faithfulness. It’s an encouragement to read about your victory. Blessings to you and yours.
He knows your name, Wanda. Even before you were born, he knew you. Hugs!
Ahh thanks Barbie. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
I talked today on my blog about those times when God seems far away. Your words today confirm the Truth that sings above the lonely times – He is never far, and He holds us closely. He knows us by name. We are never, ever forgotten or neglected. What wonderful assurance that is!!
Thanks for these most encouraging words today!
GOD BLESS!
Oh yes you have Sharon. I reckon we all have those lonely times when God seems so far way. It’s ever more important to cling onto his truth at these times.
Oh yes you have Sharon. I reckon we all have those lonely times when God seems so far way. It’s ever more important to cling to his truth at these times.
To feel it to your core that you are seen and known and cherished; this is reality
but so few ever really live in this truth, as you’ve described so beautifully. I think that battle for our true identity is one of the greatest and most important we’ll ever fight. We have an enemy always trying to shame us into going small, to believing we’re invisible, while our Father and Creator is singing over us, celebrating our unique design, and calling us out of the shadows and into the light. It’s a dance that seems to last a lifetime, in my experience. Learning to hear Him call our name with so much love and care that the wounds of our hearts
are healed and our identity is secure. I join Him in singing over you destiny and discovery and delicious joy in the unique beauty that you are:)
Thanks for this wonderful word,
Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer for your wonderful words of encouragement. You words always such beautiful array of blessings every time I read them.
Wanda I know this isn’t recent but is still so encouraging! As the world around us can seem so disconnected and so impersonal, it is so important for us to remember how personal our God is! He created us individually, He knows us individually and He loves us individually! I pray we all continue to cement that into our hearts 🙂 I always love to turn to Luke 15:4 to remember He pursues us one by one. What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
Thank you so much for the encouragement in this ! Love your blog, keep up the awesome work!
Hi Lee, when you think about just how many people are in the world but we are known intimately by the Lord, it is just almost too much to fathom. Love the verse you reference, it displays perfectly just how much each one matters to God. Thank you for the sweet encouragement. May you keep shining the light my sister.