Forgotten by God - Rachel

photo credit: She Reads Truth

Have you ever felt like God completely forgot all about you?  I mean, it makes sense, right?  He's got all the people currently living on earth right now, as well as the ones He's forming in their mother's wombs, and all those waiting to be formed!  And that's just the people!  God's got a lot to manage - it would make sense that He might forget about one of us every now and then.

But that's not the way it works.  He never forgets about us.  He never leaves us.  He never forsakes us.  He. Is. Always. With. Us.

ALWAYS.

FOREVER.

AND EVER.

And God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.

Genesis 30:22

Rachel might have felt forgotten by God as she watched her sister bear seven children to the husband they were forced to share.  Even both Leah and Rachel's maidservants also had children of their own.  And yet, Rachel remained childless and alone.

But God "remembers" differently than we do.

People "remember" after they "forget."

We "remember" where we stashed the keys.  We "remember" the party we were supposed to be at 20 minutes ago.  We "remember" anniversaries and birthdays.

And in our finite understanding of God, we read passages about God remembering Rachel and assume that if God "remembered" then He must have "forgotten."

But according to the NIV Study Bible, "To 'remember' in the Bible is often not merely to recall people to mind but to express concern for them, to act with loving care for them.  When God remembers his children, he does so 'with favor.'"

Although Rachel had all the love from a devoted husband, she had no children - her heart's desire.  It is unknown why some women conceive quickly and easily and why some struggle and never can conceive, but God's hand continued to be at work throughout Rachel's story.  And He blessed her and loved her and remembered her.  He expressed concern for her and lovingly cared for Rachel.

Sometimes God is quiet, and although He is moving throughout our lives, it might seem like we have been forgotten.  God is very quiet in my life right now.  And it can be easy to feel alone and forgotten.  But I know that He is closer than my breath.  And He is working in my life.  And He loves me and knows my heart's desires.

So, cling to Him and His promises. 

And God remembered (your name); he listened to her and enabled her to (your desire).

You can read more about Rachel's story at She Reads Truth.