This post was written by Fred Morris, chaplain, Parkview Health.
Genesis 8:1 “And God remembered…”
Feeling forgotten is a hurtful and awful feeling. The pain is real and so is the hurt. In not trying to minimize the pain, however, God shows us in Genesis 8:1 that no matter how much time has passed by, He will never forget us. If God remembered Noah and his family, he shall also remember you and your family.
Noah and his family were on the ark no less than a year and 17 days. One would consider this a long time to be sealed inside a boat, to wait for the ‘unknown’, to care for the animals with no time off, to drift helplessly around on the water, to see no sun, no land, no trees. To consider such devastation, and remain patient with God, and with each other especially under such extreme circumstances.
But through it all, God had not forgotten Noah nor his family, nor their plight and God has not forgotten you, either. Although you may have …
Endured adverse circumstances for quite a while.
Suffered through a painful ordeal for some time.
Faced what seems to be impossible odds for a long time.
Encountered a long list of difficult problems.
Sacrificed your time, money and health.
Experienced opposition and persecution days without end.
Grown weak and weary under your heavy burdens and perhaps wondered if anybody really cared about you and your situation, but I assure you, God hasn’t forgotten you!
God will see to it that at just the right time that …
- His promises to you will be fulfilled.
- Your prayers will be gloriously answered.
- The door of opportunity will open for you just as it did for Noah when the waters that flooded the earth dried up.
- Unspeakable joy will replace your grief.
- Your burdens will be transformed into blessings.
- Your needs will be miraculously supplied and …
- The storm will pass, and the sun will shine again!
But until then, His grace will be sufficient. No, God didn’t forget Noah and hasn’t forgotten you either, of this you can be sure. As he blew back the waters, he will blow away our problems as well. God noted in the book of Isaiah…
Isaiah 44:21(NASB) 21 “Remember these things, Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.”
Remember you are not forgotten.