You are a City Not Forsaken
“And they shall call them The Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12).
The Bible says our God is an all-consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). Indeed He is, and His own creation magnifies this. Think upon on our solar system and the burning sun and fiery planets. Look beyond to the rest of the universe and it’s clear He isn’t a timid God but a majestic, powerful, awesome, brilliant, mysterious, creative God.
He is definitely a God to fear! But at the same time, the Bible gives us some beautiful imagery of this same God speaking tenderly to His people and soothing those who are hurting, like a newborn baby’s crying is softened by its mother. It seems so unbelievable that the creator of the heavens and earth, master of the universe, is so concerned with our welfare. The Psalmist says, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). But His thoughts ARE innumerable towards us. He made us fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14), He knows all our ways (Psalm 139:3), and numbers even the hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30).
There was a time when it seemed like God had left me alone; I thought perhaps I’d pushed the boundaries too far, not been good enough in some way, or perhaps, in the scheme of the whole universe, I was probably just a small matter. But a short time afterwards, God answered in an unmistakable way with these verses: “And they shall call them The Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12). My peace was restored and I knew that I was not forsaken. He even seeks me out!
My encouragement for today is that even though you may be in a wilderness right now, God will speak tenderly to you and bring you comfort and peace in due time. He will quiet your anxiety or fears with His perfect love because He takes great delight in you, so much so that He rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)! That you are alive today is not by chance or luck, but because God has preserved your life by His grace, compassion and love (Lamentations 3:22), and because He has a plan for your life. Hold onto that hope and hold onto the One who watches over life, redeems you from destruction and crowns you with love and compassion (Psalm 103:4).
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).
