One of the most hurtful emotions in life is feeling forgotten. I wonder if Jesus felt forgotten.
In the days before His crucifixion, Jesus took His disciples to Gethsemane. He took His three closest friends deeper into the garden to keep watch while He prayed. But Peter, James, and John fell asleep (Mark 14:32-42). Though Jesus woke them and asked them to keep watch and pray, they fell back asleep. I wonder, did Jesus feel forgotten?
Now, to be fair, I believe the disciples were so overwhelmed by grief and sorrow that they were exhausted. Who could blame them? Jesus had been preparing them for days that He was going to die, and I believe it all felt like too much for them. Often, when we are overwhelmed with grief, we sleep. It’s a great escape. It’s also possible that the three disciples felt a bit forgotten themselves, perhaps giving up hope because Jesus was not coming through in the way they anticipated. They thought He was coming to overthrow the Romans and establish His kingdom. Crucifixion was never in their minds!
When we anticipate God coming through for us in a certain way and He does not, it’s easy to feel forgotten and disillusioned. Maybe you’ve been praying for years about something, but God hasn’t answered the way you hoped. Or perhaps you experienced a violent crime and you wonder, “Where was God?” Each of us, at one point or another, is going to feel forgotten. It’s part of our spiritual journey. How we handle those moments will either strengthen our faith or diminish it.
3 Things to Remember When You Feel Forgotten
God the Father’s ways are higher than yours. The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). If His ways always made sense, He wouldn’t be big enough for you to trust.
Jesus, the Son, is constantly praying for you. Humans may forget you, but Jesus has not. In fact, He continually prays for you (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). When I experience discouragement, I remind myself that Jesus Himself is praying for me.
The Holy Spirit lives within you. You are never alone. You are never forgotten by God. His presence is always with you. The Holy Spirit is your 24/7 journey mate. He is there to strengthen you, empower you, teach you, and lead you into all truth (John 14:17, 16:13-15).
Friend, because we live in a fallen world, and the evil one is always trying to sift us, we will at times be forgotten. However, God says, “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” (Isaiah 49:15-17). Why don’t you take a minute and underline those verses in your Bible? Then, remind yourself, God the Father’s ways are higher than yours, Jesus His Son continually prays for you, and The Holy Spirit is constantly with you! You are never alone or forgotten by God.
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