You are not forgotten! That was the message I heard from God when I watched a video from Work of the People, of Sarah Bessey, a Canadian Christian blogger and author of Jesus Feminist. Sarah was talking about the time she had a miscarriage and it was one of the lowest points of her life. She felt so alone with what was happening to her and wondered – had God forgotten her?
We often feel this in our lives. We go about day to day often hiding really challenging situations. Sometimes it’s our health, sometimes it’s our financial situation and sometimes it’s things so horrible no one wants to talk about it.
I know a couple right now who are both battling cancer. He’s terminal and it looks like she might survive. Both are going through treatments at the same time. It’s a wonder they get up and go to work each day. The wife dons her hat to cover her bald head and goes to work for a small business that doesn’t offer any sick time or benefits. If she doesn’t work she doesn’t get paid. It seems the owner is more concerned about other things because he’s hinted that if she can’t work he’ll have to let her go and hire someone else.
Another woman I know goes home each day from work to violence and abuse. Before she leaves the house in the morning she carefully camouflages marks with makeup and clothing.
It’s so easy to lose sight of the fact that God is present with us in our sufferings. So easily we slip into a childish notion of God where He is the big magician in the sky that can wave His magic wand and make all our pain go away. But we are taught that God, rather than intervene in our lives like that, chooses instead to walk with us in this life. We are not forgotten. He is there with us – crying with us, hurting with us, dying with us. Whatever our circumstances, God has NOT forgotten us. Where is He then? He’s here, in me, as I walk alongside the sick. He’s there, in you, as you help your neighbour flee abuse. He’s here with me as I listen over coffee to the couple whose teenage son is getting into drugs. He has not forgotten us, He’s here – in His people.
Major Kathy Chiu is a writer, preacher and Salvation Army Officer. Passionate about God's Word, family...and of course knitting. Currently the Executive Director at The Salvation Army Victoria Addictions & Rehabilitation Centre. Regularly blogging over at www.kathiechiu.com .
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking HERE
