Not Forgotten, Not Behind: Choosing Presence in a World That Pulls Us Thin
There is a quiet fear many of us carry, especially as women, mothers, and leaders:
Am I doing enough?
Am I missing it?
Couldn’t I somehow be more present, more faithful, more put-together than I am?
We live in a world that rewards hustle, applauds exhaustion, and often equates productivity with worth. Add motherhood, business ownership, ministry, health, relationships, and the constant noise of information—and it can feel impossible to rest without guilt.
But Scripture offers us something radically different: assurance before achievement, presence before performance, and rest rooted in trust.
Two passages in particular have been sitting heavy—and sweet—on my heart lately:
Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
and
Luke 10:41–42
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”
Together, they speak directly to the tension so many of us feel: loving deeply, working hard, and longing to be fully present without burning out or falling short.
“Even If She Forgets… I Will Not”
Isaiah 49:15 is one of the most tender verses in all of Scripture.
God compares His love to that of a nursing mother—the most instinctive, embodied, and fierce kind of human attachment. In ancient culture, this bond was considered nearly unbreakable. And yet God says something startling:
Even if that bond were to fail—even if the most dependable human love faltered—I will not forget you.
This isn’t a commentary on mothers being inadequate. It’s a declaration that God’s love goes beyond even the best version of human care.
R.C. Sproul often taught that when God uses human imagery, He is not limiting Himself—He is lowering Himself so we can understand. This verse is God meeting us in our weakness and saying:
Your limits do not scare Me. Your humanity does not disappoint Me.
For mothers who feel distracted.
For women who feel pulled in too many directions.
For anyone who has whispered, “I’m trying my best, but it doesn’t feel like enough.”
This verse answers gently but firmly:
You are not forgotten. Not in your busiest season. Not in your quietest one.
And in Scripture, when God says He “remembers,” He doesn’t mean passive awareness—He means active faithfulness. He sustains. He intervenes. He keeps covenant.
You may forget a moment. God does not forget you.
Martha, Mary, and the Myth of “Doing It All”
Luke 10 is often framed as a story about choosing rest over work—but that’s not actually what Jesus says.
Martha is doing something good. Necessary, even. Hospitality mattered. Service mattered.
But Jesus names the real issue with compassion:
“You are anxious and troubled about many things.”
The problem wasn’t her work—it was her inner division.
Mary, on the other hand, chooses presence. She sits at Jesus’ feet—not to be impressive, but to be formed. Not to contribute, but to receive.
Dane Ortlund writes often about the approachability of Christ. Jesus is not irritated by our neediness. He is not impressed by our self-sufficiency. Mary’s posture is one of trust, and Jesus affirms it:
“It will not be taken from her.”
Everything else can be taken—roles, seasons, energy, capacity.
Time spent with Christ never is.
This passage isn’t about choosing Mary instead of Martha.
It’s about choosing Mary before Martha.
Presence first.
Then service flows without anxiety.
What This Has to Do With 4:8
At 4:8, our mission has never been about pushing harder or doing more for the sake of it.
It’s about equipping people to live well for life.
We believe:
Your body is not a machine to be driven into the ground.
Strength and rest are not opposites—they are partners.
Health isn’t about constant intensity; it’s about sustainable rhythms.
Whether it’s physical therapy, Pilates, strength training, recovery work, or simply creating a space where women can move their bodies and bring their children—we are trying to live out this truth:
Presence matters. Wholeness matters. You matter.
Just as Jesus calls Martha back to what is necessary, we want to help people reconnect with their bodies, their breath, their capacity—and ultimately, their trust in God.
Because a regulated nervous system, a strong and supported body, and a rested spirit are not luxuries. They are foundations.
Looking Ahead to 2026: A Word for the Year
As we look toward 2026, instead of choosing a word that pushes harder or demands more, I want to invite something gentler—but deeper.
Word of the Year: Presence
Presence with God.
Presence with our families.
Presence in our bodies.
Presence in the work God has actually given us—not the work we think we should be doing.
Presence doesn’t mean doing less on paper.
It means being undivided in what we are doing.
It’s choosing the “one necessary thing” again and again.
A Prayer for 2026
Lord,
As we step into a new year, we release the pressure to prove ourselves.
Teach us to trust that we are not forgotten—
not in our exhaustion,
not in our ambition,
not in our humanity.
Help us to choose what is necessary over what is merely loud.
To work diligently without anxiety.
To rest without guilt.
To be present where our feet are.
Strengthen our bodies, steady our minds, and soften our hearts.
Order our priorities.
Anchor us in Your love.
May 2026 be a year marked not by striving,
but by faithful presence—
with You, and with those You’ve entrusted to us.
Amen.
