Never Forgotten: God Knows Exactly Where You Are
Isaiah 49:15 –16a - "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…"
Have you ever been left behind? Lost? Forgotten?
At six years old, my husband was accidentally left at the airport.
Like some little boys are fascinated with trains or dinosaurs, he has always been captivated by airplanes. In fact, I sometimes joke that "airplane" must have been one of his first words. His father managed the local airport and was also a pilot. So, on a sunny summer afternoon, my mother-in-law loaded her four children into the car to visit Dad at work—something they did often.
After exploring the office, spinning in Dad's chair, and collecting treats from the other airport employees, it was finally time to head home for dinner.
As everyone was gathering to leave, my husband noticed a sleek white Cessna sitting on the tarmac. Completely captivated, he quietly wandered outside and around the corner to watch it taxi toward the runway. He stood there in amazement as it lifted gracefully into the sky.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family climbed into the car and drove home. He never heard them leave. He never realized he had been left behind. It wasn't until the family arrived home and gathered for dinner that my mother-in-law suddenly realized one child was missing.
The moment she knew which child it was, she also knew exactly where to find him.
Without hesitation, she jumped back into the car and drove straight to the airport. Sure enough, there he was. A little six-year-old boy sat quietly in the grass just off the tarmac, still watching airplanes, completely unaware that his family had ever left.
As I think about that story, I'm reminded of another mother who went searching for her son.
Her name was also Mary.
After traveling with family and friends to Jerusalem for the Passover, Mary and Joseph assumed twelve-year-old Jesus was somewhere in the caravan. It wasn't until an entire day's journey later that they realized He wasn't with them. They hurried back to Jerusalem, and after three days of searching, they found Him in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking questions (Luke 2:41–52).
There are moments in life when we feel lost, forgotten, or left behind.
But here's the beautiful truth: God never forgets His children. If anything, we are often the ones who wander. We become distracted by the noise of life, captivated by the things around us, and before we know it, we've drifted from the One who has never taken His eyes off us.
Long before we ever knew Him, He knew us. Before we ever searched for Him, He was pursuing us. And even when we feel forgotten, we can rest in this promise: God has never forgotten us—not for a single moment.
In Isaiah 49:15 –16a, we read Scripture that paints a picture of this promise: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast...? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Even if the most loving mother could forget her child, He never will.
I know what you might be asking: “But if God never forgets me, why do I sometimes feel forgotten?”
Our feelings can be powerful, but they are not always truthful. They often tell us what we see in the moment, while God's Word reminds us of what is true for eternity.
Before we allow our feelings to answer that question above, let's listen to God's promise.
Let’s start with Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” God was speaking to Joshua as he began to lead the Israelites in the Promised Land after the death of Moses. Joshua had been prepared for this role however, without Moses, he was a bit unsure of his abilities and at times, felt incredibly alone. Two verses later, the promise is repeated in verse 8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
King David understood this truth well. In Psalm 139:7–12, he reflects on the many places he could go—whether to the heights of heaven, the depths of the earth, or even into the darkness. Yet David came to one unmistakable conclusion: there is nowhere he can go where God is not already present. These verses remind us that God has never taken His eyes off us. No matter where we are or what we are facing, His presence goes before us, remains beside us, and surrounds us with His unfailing love.
You see the problem isn't that God has moved. More often than not, we've become distracted. Life becomes busy. Disappointments pile up. We begin listening to other voices. We slowly drift—not because God stopped pursuing us, but because we've stopped noticing His presence.
That is a gentle truth—not condemning, but inviting.
God isn't asking us to earn our way back into His presence. He simply invites us to return to Him. Here are three simple practices that help us quiet the noise and reconnect with the One who has never left us:
Be still long enough to recognize His presence. (Psalm 46:10)
Open His Word and let His truth quiet your fears. (John 15:7)
Talk honestly with Him, knowing He already understands your heart. (Philippians 4:6)
My husband never knew he'd been left behind. His mother knew exactly where he was. And she immediately came looking for him.
Friend, if you've been feeling forgotten lately, remember this: Your Heavenly Father has never wondered where you are.
He has never lost sight of you.
He knows exactly where you are sitting today.
He knows your fears, your disappointments, your questions, and your dreams.
And just as that little boy didn't have to find his mother before she came looking for him, you don't have to wonder whether God is pursuing you.
He already is.
