You Are Not Forgotten

Like many children, I went through a picky phase with food. One of my favorites was toast. One time while visiting my stepdad’s family, I asked if I could make some toast. When my toast was done, one of the adults stopped me and told me that I had prepared it wrong. They demanded I go stand in the corner as punishment. 

Although I didn’t understand what I had done wrong, I complied and went to stand in the corner. Immediately, all the adults burst into laughter. Humiliation washed over me. It had to be my fault, right? No one came to my defense, so I interpreted that as confirmation of my guilt. 

Bullying and abuse were normal events to me growing up. I tried to avoid provoking others by being well-behaved and not drawing attention to myself. Deep down, I felt forgotten, invisible, and I blamed myself when something went wrong. Even when I accepted Jesus into my heart years later and understood I was going to Heaven, I didn’t think He’d notice me when I arrived.

When I pursued counseling as an adult, I was introduced to resources from Freedom in Christ Ministries. The concept of my identity in Christ intrigued me. Hopeful, I wondered: “Did God really see me, even if I haven’t done anything special? Could I really change and ‘be transformed by the renewing of my mind’ (Romans 12:2)?” 

Exploring my significance in God’s eyes seemed like a terribly selfish venture. Fear and doubt plagued me: “Am I even allowed to consider myself valuable? Aren’t I just a no-good, dirty sinner? Shouldn’t I hate myself because of my sin?”

Yet, God had a plan for me, and He was committed to my growth as His beloved child. Gently, patiently, lovingly, He began to show me what the Bible says about who He is and who I am. He faithfully pursued me, never rushing or forcing me to obey Him. The truth in His Word became a soothing balm to my battered soul. 

Perhaps the biggest game-changer was learning the incredible power of forgiveness. I mistakenly believed that forgiving means excusing the person’s behavior. In reality, I was being poisoned daily by rage and bitterness toward others. Thankfully I learned that, as Neil Anderson says, “We don’t heal in order to forgive; we forgive in order to heal.” God held my hand as I began to sincerely forgive those who had mistreated me, one by one. Over time, this became much easier to do, and He grew my capacity for compassion and mercy. After all, He forgave me first (Ephesians 4:32)!

God continues to reveal areas in my heart and life that need restoration and complete healing. Because I trust Him and know who I am in Christ, I am eager to listen, learn, and be led by Him. What a joy to know that He is not abusive or cruel, and that He delights in me (Ps 18:19)! As I continue abiding in Him, He bears fruit in me that draws others back to Him as the ultimate source of our acceptance, security, and significance. 

Psalm 139 serves as a precious reminder of how intimately involved God is in every moment of our lives—even before we were born. Verses 13-16 say:

“For you formed my inward parts;    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.     Wonderful are your works;    my soul knows it very well.My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,    the days that were formed for me,    when as yet there was none of them.”

Unlike the adults who mockingly used my innocence and obedience for a laugh, Jesus never laughed at me. He did not shame or humiliate me; instead, He went through all of it with me. In that moment, He saw me and knew me, long before I knew Him.

Fellow Saints, you were not born by accident. You are not a mistake. You were created intentionally and purposefully by the One who created the universe in which we live. To the limited human mind, it would seem impossible to be noticed by someone that powerful. But as we are reminded in Isaiah 55:8-9, our thoughts and ways are not the same as the Lord’s. His are higher than ours!

I renounce the lie that I am forgotten or invisible. 

I announce the truth that I am fully seen and known by God (Psalm 139).

May He bring healing to any area of our hearts still hindered by painful memories, so that we may move forward in FREEDOM!