“Shout for joy, O Heavens, rejoice O earth, Burst into song, O mountains, for the Lord comforts His people, and will have compassion for the afflicted ones. But Zion said,” the Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me”. Can a mother forget the baby at her breast, and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands, your wails are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:13 – 16.

Rev. Teresiah Wairimu

In this passage, Isaiah was addressing people who had come from 70 years of captivity in Babylon. They had been punished for their faithlessness to God. However, upon their return to their country, God’s covenant people were being reminded that they had been forgiven through God’s grace and mercy. They should forget their tears, their despair, pain and discouragement. These belonged to the old life. It was a new season of restoration, comfort and hope. War is ended, iniquity forgiven. They should bury the past and continue with the future.

Many people after years of trouble think it is their portion. They are unable to interpret the end of the season. Kenyans for example were without rain for many seasons. When it came they could at first not believe it was for real. They thought it would soon pass and the persisting famine would endure. But we are all pleasantly surprised and now there is food everywhere. Local vegetables can even be picked from pathways.

God is giving us rest. God is giving us comfort. God is giving us restoration from the times of the clashes and the famine. You do not need to be a great prophet to interpret the season. God is showing us His grace and mercy just as He did with His covenant people. We have come through a lot of pain but God says this is a season of new beginnings. We have survived and God is there for us. Isaiah is saying, “Sing Oh Heavens, Rejoice O earth” You have no reason to be gloomy because the joy of the Lord will be your strength.

God is picking you from the ashes.  He is blessing the afflicted; the oppressed, depressed and suppressed.  What the locusts ate will be restored. Sing because the Lord says so, and His mercy endures forever. .Isaiah is saying, “forget the past”.

We are being reminded to lay our burdens on Christ and forget them. And not take them up again. Old wine cannot mix with the new.

Do not walk like the season has not changed. And do not keep on confessing what the devil did to you in the past. Or be bogged down by people’s opinions towards you. Live in the present and for the future! Count your blessings one by one and remember that unlike human beings who forget, God can never forget you. And he is always there to comfort and give you hope.

(Excerpted from Reverend Wairimu’s address on the Interdenominational meeting held at the Karen Sanctuary of Faith Evangelistic Ministries on the – April 2010)

This article first appeared in the June--July 2010 issue of Woman of Faith magazine. Copyright Woman of Faith Magazine. All rights reserved. For comments write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it