Inscribed on HIS Hands

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?

Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. . "
                        -- From Isaiah chapter 49

There is a simple but sweet little chorus that we used to sing a number of years ago. "Oh, how He loves you and me. . ."
All of us have times -- some more than others -- when we are mystified that GOD should love us as much as He says He does. We especially feel that way when we look closely at ourselves and see that we do not deserve God's love. We wonder why and how He would bless us the way He does.

Perhaps that is why God uses the analogy of a parent to communicate the truth of His love. He is our Heavenly Father. He is our "Abba" (Daddy) He says that He cherishes us the way a mother does her baby.

Most of us can understand that picture -- especially those of us who are parents. There are times when we are SO disappointed in the actions or attitudes of our own children. Most of us have shed tears over their crimes and misdemeanors. Some of us have faced some tough situations with our children or because of them. But no matter how difficult things were, there remained a place in our hearts that cherished them. We never gave up hope. Through the various heartaches, love endured.

You may or may not be a parent, but you ARE someone's child. It is very likely that you have been on the receiving end of that kind of love. You may remember an embrace or a few. You may remember encouraging words. You have probably heard, "I love you SO much and I want the very best for you." If that is the case, you have a small picture already of the kind of love that GOD has for you and me -- and for all of us.

When I read that Scripture from Isaiah tonight, I pictured God with a tattoo across the palm of His hand. I imagined my face indelibly inscribed there. I cannot be wiped off His palm and He will never remove me. He will keep me there even when I bring grief to His heart and disappoint Him. He will keep His eyes on me even through tears that may flow over MY high crimes against Him. 

Are you discouraged? Are you battling an illness? Do you have financial needs? Does your heart ache over a wounded or broken relationship? If you belong to Jesus, He is holding you and He will not let you go! 

Someone has aptly said that whenever we come TO a difficult circumstance, God will bring us THROUGH it.  He will not stand idly by and root for us, but He will enter into the difficulty with us. "He holds my hand. . . the way may be long but my Savior is strong and He holds my hand." 

Count on it. It is true!