Mothers and Tattoos
March 8, 2026
What do you do when you believe God’s promises but still feel forgotten? In the second Servant Song, Isaiah reveals a salvation so vast it reaches the ends of the earth. Yet in the middle of that promise, God’s people cry out, “The Lord has forgotten me.” Rather than rebuking their doubt, God responds with tenderness — likening His love to that of a nursing mother and then going even further: “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” In song two of The Servant Songs, we see how Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s vision — not only as the Servant who brings salvation to the nations, but as the Savior who bears our names in wounded hands. When faith feels thin and pain feels personal, the gospel reminds us: we are not forgotten — we are held.
Passage
God will bring Salvation (Isaiah 49:1-13)
Soon for Israel
Eventually for the Nations
Ultimately for all Creation
A ##Painful## ##Question## (Isaiah 49:14)
An ##Answer## to the ##Question## (Isaiah 49:15)
A ##Cure## for the ##Pain## (Isaiah 49:16)
Principle
God has not ##forgotten## you; He has ##engraved## you on the ##palms## of His ##hands##.
Practice
Place your ##life## in the ##nail-scarred## ##hands## of the Savior who will never ##forget## you.
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple, or with your family or small group.
HANGOUT
- Describe a time when you were forgotten or when you forgot someone.
- Have you ever felt like God forgot you?
“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!” – Isaiah 49:15
Isaiah describes the Servant of the Lord as someone who will never forget or fail to act on behalf of those He loves. What does the image of a nursing mother tell you about Jesus and His love?
HEAR
Example 1: Mary (Grief and Fear)
Read John 20:11–18
- Why was Mary upset? Has grief ever made you feel abandoned by God?
- What was Jesus’ response to Mary’s grief? Of all the people Jesus could have appeared to first, why do you think He chose Mary?
- How does Jesus’ death and resurrection assure us that God has not forgotten us amid our grief and fear?
Example 2: Thomas (Doubt and Discouragement)
Read John 20:19–29
- What are the circumstances that led to Thomas’s doubts and encounter with Jesus?
- What is Jesus’ response to Thomas’s doubts and discouragement?
- Have you ever experienced God’s grace during a time of doubt and discouragement?
Example 3: Peter (Sin and Shame)
Read John 21:1–19
- Why do you think Peter and the others returned to fishing?
- Why did Jesus specifically ask Peter if he loved Him?
- Has sin ever caused you to want to give up and return to an old pattern of life? How did God reassure you of His love for you through that season?
HUDDLE
Is there any area of your life where you doubt God’s faithfulness? If so, what is it? How does the truth of God’s word in Isaiah 49:14-16 challenge that doubt? Discuss it, invite accountability, and pray together.
Daily Reading
As you read each passage, look for connections to this week’s sermon and small group discussion. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Day 1: Isaiah 42
- Day 2: Isaiah 49
- Day 3: John 20:1-18
- Day 4: John 20:19-31
- Day 5: John 21
- Day 6: Psalm 139
- Day 7: Isaiah 54:7-10
Passage to Memorize: Isaiah 49:15-16
Think Deeper
- Have you ever felt forgotten by God? If so, what made you feel that way?
- What thoughts and feelings does an image of a nursing mother evoke?
- How strongly would you have to feel about someone to tattoo their name on your hands?
Suggested Resources
No Wonder They Call Him Savior, by Max Lucado
Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright
The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey
Check out these and other books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB.