Not Forgotten, Not Forsaken

“For the needy will not always be forgotten; nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed.”
— Psalm 9:18


In the long silence of unanswered prayers and the lingering weight of injustice, doubt can creep in. Where is God when the world forgets the suffering? Psalm 9:18 answers with quiet, unshakable assurance: God has not forgotten. The cries of the needy, though ignored by society, are not lost on Him. The hope of the oppressed, though often fragile and flickering, is not misplaced.

This verse acknowledges the ache of waiting and the pain of feeling unseen. And yet, it speaks a greater truth—God remembers. He is not absent from the anguish of the poor. He is not indifferent to the weight of injustice. Though the systems of this world may delay justice, God’s timeline is not ruled by neglect. His faithfulness is sure, even when hidden from view. Think back—have you ever felt forsaken in your own time of need? What gave you strength? Could it be that even now, God is drawing near in ways not yet visible?

Hope, especially for the oppressed, is often tested. But this verse doesn’t ask us to manufacture hope through optimism or willpower. It invites us to root our hope in God’s character—the God who hears, sees, remembers, and acts. And as His people, we are called to reflect that same remembering. Who in your life today might feel forgotten? How might you become a living reminder that they are seen by God?

This week, choose to be that reminder. Reach out to someone who may feel left behind—perhaps a neighbor struggling quietly, a caregiver burdened by exhaustion, or a friend walking through grief. A note, a visit, or a shared moment of presence may be the very sign they need that hope still lives. When we walk alongside the hurting, we echo God’s promise: You are not forgotten. Your hope is not in vain.


Faithful God,

You remember what the world forgets. You carry the cries of the poor and the hopes of the hurting close to Your heart. Strengthen those who feel lost or unseen. Use me to bring encouragement and justice where despair has taken root. Let me be a bearer of hope, not just in words but in presence and action. Remind me, too, that my own hope is safe in You.

I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

-

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