“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him, for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Ps. 103:13-14).
What a blessing it is to have a compassionate Father overseeing our lives. Constantly, he observes us, knowing what we’ll say before the thought even forms or the words flow over our lips. We are filled with reverent awe of this mighty God who shaped the universe and yet who is cognizant of every intricacy of our inner selves, even filling us with his very presence.
He formed us in the womb. He numbers our hairs, counts our tears, and considers us individually more than there are grains of sand upon the earth, a number beyond reckoning.
Yet, to me the most comforting aspect of God’s view is that he remembers that I am dust. He is completely aware of all my failings and weaknesses. I’m a self-reliant, stubborn firstborn. I’ve got this. I forget I’m dust all the time.
And so, I get buried. I forget to lift my eyes up to the one who provides the help. I fail to rely on the Lord. My load grows heavier and heavier. I stoop. I topple.
But God never forgets I’m human.
“The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more” (Ps. 103:15-16).
The writing world is undergoing fast-paced change. Keeping up makes my head spin. As I prepare for the writing conference I’m attending next week, I’m caught in a swirl of tumultuous industry change, career-shaping decisions, passion for the written word, and attempts at literary immortality.
Because we’re mortal, mere creatures of dust, in addition to getting our words to those we hope to encourage, we writers hope to leave a legacy. It’s a human attempt to remain, even after we blow away and are forgotten. Within fifty years of our deaths, no one will be alive who even knew us.
Yet, our words might stick. So, we’re battered about as we try to discern how to publish.
This is vanity and chasing after the wind. If God wants our words to remain, he’ll bring it about, whether we choose self-publishing, traditional publishing, or indie publishing. The vehicle we choose for publishing is immaterial.
And so, the fact that the Lover of my soul knows I’m dust comforts me. Not only does he know how frail and self-reliant I am as I struggle to make these decisions, but he knows I want immortality. Through his Son, he provided the only type of immortality that matters, giving me a living hope and the promise of an unfading, eternal inheritance. He knows me more intimately than I know myself, so he knows my truest needs better than I do. This is true of all of us.
We are seen and known. We will not be forgotten.
Jesus engraved us on the palms of his hands, bearing his crucifixion scars for all eternity as a living memorial of his sacrifice for us. Our names are written in his book, and his Spirit inspired the writing of his eternal Word. These are the important writings.
How does it comfort you that God will never forget you?
Top three images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
It comforts me to know He will never forget me, because I already in the everydayness of my living feel as if I could go away and no one would notice until I fail to carry out the next duty I have agreed to. It is a struggle I have to not be invisible even in a room of people, because I am notdrawing all the attention or am not saying what others listening want to hear. Before the foundation of the world, He foreknew me and sanctified me and made a plan to forgive me through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. My Abba always has seen me and I cannot go anywhere he cannot see me. If I pass through this world only knowing this truth about Him, then that is the most awesome way to be known – it goes from eternity to eternity and never fades or spoils, guarded by the One who chose to place His love upon me. My name is in the Book of Life forever – this is comfort, this is my fuel to live as He calls every day, because it reminds me my Abba has me firmly in His hand.
I think we all feel that sense of invisibility. I know I do. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve worked for no salary my entire adult life, or if it’s a norm of the human condition. I find I grow most discouraged when I forget God’s watchful eye. Like you, the fact that God sees everything I do and the heart motivation behind it is the greatest and most encouraging reality of my life. What a friend our Savior is!
Yesterday, our speaker at women’s Bible study, reminded us that in a matter of years, we AND all our stuff will be just dirt! Here, you are saying the same thing, using the word “dirt.” But, knowing that, God still loves me! Isaiah 43:4 reminds me that I am precious in his sight, and He loves me!” Amazing, but true!! Lest I forget, I read His Word daily! He is am amazing God!
God seems to speak a message everywhere. The Holy Spirit gets his point across. And so, we praise him.
“Why do I languish thus, drooping and dull, As if I were all earth?
O give me quicknesse, that I may with mirth Praise thee brim-full!”
(George Herbert, “Dulnesse”)
Reminds me of an illustrated children’s book that I loved as a child…This little girl goes to all these far away places, like up in a hot air balloon and to the ocean floor asking, “where can you go to escape the love of God” and she, of course, ends up finding his love will find her anywhere 🙂
I remember that book!! It wased upon Psalm 139. I can almost remember the pictures too.
That’s the beautiful thing about God’s love!