(God said) ". . . I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b

Have you ever felt forgotten?

It's not a pleasant experience, is it? Not so long ago one of our Lutheran parochial school teachers told me of a little boy who, on the opening day of school, felt so alone he actually started to make himself sick.

The lad was so upset he asked for permission to call home. As the boy was a new student, the teacher asked her aide to help the boy make the connection. The call was made, but when his mother answered, the fellow was too distraught to talk. Without hearing anything or anyone on the other end of the line, the mother understandably asked, "Who is this? Hello, who is this?"

The little boy burst into tears as he sobbed, "Mom, this is Jerome. Have you . . . forgotten me . . . already?"

Thankfully, most of us have never been so alone that we have felt our own mothers had forgotten us. Even so, the feeling of loneliness can be a terrible burden.

Thankfully, as Christians we are comforted and encouraged by the realization we have a God who never forgets us.

Our Lord remembered us when He first promised Adam and Eve He was going to send His Son to be the Savior of sinners. When Jesus knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, He remembered us and our transgressions. When He hung on the cross dying to save sinners, His sacrifice was for those who were there that day -- and for us who would be born centuries later.

And now, even though everyone else may forget us, or ignore us, or even despise us, God still remembers.

In the crucified and risen Savior we have been given a Redeemer, a constant Companion, a Friend whose love is shown for us in a thousand ways every day.

The words of our text for this Daily Devotion are important. God has made the promise to never leave us or forsake us. Relying on that promise our loneliness is checked.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, in those dark times when I feel so alone, please help me remember You are walking beside me and holding me close. Send Your Holy Spirit to constantly remind me You will never forget me. This prayer of thanks I offer in the Name of my Redeemer and Friend. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 16-18    Matthew 27:1-26

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