Proverbs 11:25
“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.”
Thoughts from Pastor Brian
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
This week as we remember those who have come before us, I can’t help but be drawn to the passage above. The verse before is a cry from Zion, the holy city of God. It states that Zion feels abandoned and forgotten by the Lord. But God’s response is simple and matter of fact. In verse 15 He says, “I will not forget you.”
He goes on to say that His people are inscribed on the palms of His hands and continually before Him. What a beautiful promise and foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus would later make to restore and redeem His people. Jesus would live and die, literally taking the pain of punishment that we all deserved, leaving Him with scars on His hands.
When Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection in John 20, He shows them the scars on His hands as proof of who He is and that He is really risen. In fact, Thomas, who is skeptical, states that until he can touch the wounds, he will not believe. Jesus, in His compassion, appears to them and allows Thomas to literally put his hands on the wounds.
Jesus’ wounds mark the love He has for us. They are the physical reminder of all that He did for us, that He never forgets us. We were not forgotten or forsaken by God, ever. There was always a plan for our redemption and relationship.
Make it Real
It’s not an uncommon feeling for us all to wonder at some point if God has forgotten us. When life throws the worst at us and we feel at our lowest, it’s easy for us to wonder where God is in all of it. On Memorial Day, we remember those who have given their lives for us. For those who have lost loved ones, I imagine a day like today makes someone wonder where God was in all of it.
When we lose the things, people, and situations we love, it’s easy to feel abandoned. The enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to convince us that the pain of this world is proof that God either doesn’t exist or that He doesn’t care.
But I believe that is why God chose to purchase our redemption in the way that He did. He could have redeemed His people in a variety of ways- after all, He is God. But I believe that God took on flesh so that He could meet us in our humanity. I believe He chose to suffer excruciating pain so that He could meet us in our pain. And I believe He chose to endure heartbreaking loss so that He could meet us in our loss.
See, God’s plan was always in our favor. He always had us in mind. He broke down barriers and scaled over obstacles in an audacious and outlandish way so that we could understand His deep and unfailing love for us.
So, no matter what storms you go through, you are never forgotten. You are never forsaken. You are literally written on the palms of His hands and ever before Him. His love for us is incredibly amazing and overwhelming. He is so good and so perfect. And in this great story that is ultimately about His glory, He loves us so much that He chooses to bring about His glory through our good.
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Lord,
Thank You so much for being such a GOOD God! Thank You that You love me more than I can imagine or perceive. Thank You that I can trust that You never forget me, that I am literally written on the palms of Your hands. Help me to remember when You feel far away that You never are.
In Jesus Name,
Amen!