One thing I’ve had the pleasure of observing over recent years is many of our young couples becoming parents for the first time. Their lives are transformed, literally, overnight.  This transformation seems especially powerful for the new mums.

Young women who previously seemed so distracted - busy with career, social life, coping with their husband, church ministries, or whatever: a million miles away from the relentless demands of parenthood – are suddenly focused and devoted and distracted by only one thing: their newborn baby. Maternal instinct conquers and I see it again and again and again.

In Isaiah 49, the Lord calls forth praise from the heavens and earth because of his comfort and compassion for his afflicted people. The people have suffered because of their sin and they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me’.

I know how they feel. Sometimes life overwhelms everything, and I feel abandoned and hopeless and adrift. Often, I’m to blame. Why would God bother? Maybe he has forgotten. Maybe he doesn’t care.

The Lord’s response, ‘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’ (Isaiah 49:15-16).

‘Though she may forget…’ But we know that nursing mothers don’t forget. Their radar is always on, always alert, always at the ready.

Even more for our God. He loves us with an everlasting love. Through the deepest valley, he goes before. Every time he looks at his hand, he sees my name.