Genesis 8
As I sat to write this, I had a heavy heart. But God showed me such mercy by giving me a little laugh that makes writing this post a little less hard. Stay tuned for next week's post- Radical God- for that story!
My family was sick for just over 2 weeks over Christmas. I managed to stay healthy til the end- but being mama to sick kids means you're up when they are, and even after they fall asleep to make sure they are ok. We also had some MAJOR life changes happening in both my job and my husband's. We had some other struggles going on with a child. Our future was going to change drastically, and there was an element of nerves- dare I say worry- about how everything would go down. I did trust God.... but I also struggled with surrendering these things.
In regards to my situation, I had felt convicted for a while about what I needed to do (but wasn't doing), and finally decided to step in faith and trust that God will provide; whatever that looked like! (Usually I would want to know how He would provide ahead of time, you know, to make sure it was "good"... but this time I really just surrendered and left it up to Him. 10/10 recommend. that peace is GREAT!)
In doing what I had to to continue to glorify God in what I do, I got some backlash. It wasn't fun (obviously) and led to a slew of doubt and other negative thoughts and emotions. Not to mention I was soooooooo tired and run down from whatever sickness was ravaging my home. I was NOT in a good headspace. But after I was obedient, that peace came flooding in, and I was able to see IMMEDIATELY one of the ways God was providing. The absence of one person, allowed me to abundantly feel the presence of THE ONE; and that was going to be significant in my business going forward.
I did reach out to a few trusted people during this storm. They were, of course, sisters in Christ who were fervently praying for me and flooding me with scripture.
Like other storms I've endured, (some storms I just rode out hiding in the boat. Full transparency.) I often got directed to Romans 8. I mean, why wouldn't I? As Warren Wiersbe put it, Romans 8 is like the Christian's Declaration of Independence! I am FREE as a follower of Jesus and that is SUPER encouraging!! But in my reading, I found another book that houses a chapter that is very encouraging, especially as I am in a season of renewal and redemption.
Believers know our God will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but feeling forgotten or forsaken is a normal human emotion, and I'd bet most of us have felt at some point in our lives. Paul struggled with it (2 Cor. 1:8), even Jesus experienced it (Matthew 27:46).
Paul felt it, Jesus felt it, we've felt it. It may have been one of the last things He experienced to totally qualify Him to have experienced everything we would experience. No matter how hard we push our imaginations, there isn't anything we experience Jesus Himself hasn't experienced (Hebrews 4:15). But because it is normal for us imperfect humans to experience the emotion of being forsaken, Jesus and Paul having gone through it doesn't give us a pass to dwell in it.
So. Going back to the fact that God doesn't actually forsake us- we just feel that way- brought me to Genesis 8; specifically the story of the flood.
While I was in the middle of my storm, I felt like I was needlessly getting pounded with hit after hit. "God why!? What am I learning, or supposed to learn? What am I missing? Surely I've learned it, so please stop this hurting!" I kinda felt forsaken.
It wasn't just MY career stuff making me feel that way. Honestly that was one of the "smaller" things affecting me. We had big changes BIG things happening with my child. Emotionally and spiritually I was maxed out. I didn't know it then, but God was using this storm to prepare me for a spiritual flood to renew my faith, and bring restoration to my and my family's life.
Our God is the God new beginnings. Time and time again, God shows us that He remembers us, He renews us, He REWARDS our faith and obedience, and in turn we get to Worship our Almighty God!
I've read Genesis more than any other book in the Bible. Mostly because I have had countless attempts at reading the Bible all the way through, only to give up by the end of Genesis. But in 2025, as I'm reading it again with my church, chapter 8 hit different.
the Bible is a living book, so you can receive an innumerable amount of things when you read it. When I had my 2025 experience with Genesis 8, I was encouraged by how Noah's "good outcome" (repopulating the earth after surviving a catastrophic flood with his family) came as a result of a lot of obedience, intention, faith, and struggle. God didn't just snap His fingers and make all the problems and struggles Noah experienced go away. He had to: build a HUGE boat when rain wasn't a thing, endure the endless mocking and ridicule of others, have an insane amount of trust, step into a role God had for him and trust he WAS capable. OH!, and he also had to go through a lot of suffering. You can't watch the world as you know it get utterly wiped out and not feel something...
Noah endured a LOT to get to the point where he once again stepped onto dry land; this time free of the evil that once plagued the earth.
I'm by no means comparing myself to the grandeur of Noah and his story. Just making a connection to the fact that God will remember me, too. He'll renew and reward my obedience, too; my "flood" just looked different. Most importantly, I get to worship and praise the Mighty God for all He has done, is doing, and will do, too! Going forward, I'll be able to look back on this "storm" and be reminded that it's important to praise Him in ALL stages of the storm; not just when the rainbow appears.
Do you have a "storm" like that? One that seems absolutely catastrophic, just to come out on the other side just to see how necessary all of those trials were, so you could be blessed how you were?? Or do you struggle to make the connection of how that F5 hurricane blowing through is a blessing in disguise? I'd encourage you to read, and re-read Genesis 8 a few times, until something "clicks". Maybe you read it more than a few times, or come back to it later. All I'm saying is give Genesis 8 an open-hearted, open-minded, surrendered-heart try.
If you're like me, and currently in a season that is more accurately labeled "hurricane season", I pray you find the peace that is readily available in our Lord Jesus. No matter when your trial ends, remember He is always worthy of praise! If you can't sing, speak. If you can't speak, whisper. If you can't whisper, speak from your heart. And if you can't hold your hands up, hold out your hands. In a figurative way- I had to ask my sisters to assist me in holding up my hands, as I felt so weak. I may have felt weak, but through God's strength I was able to get the help and prayer I needed. May you bury yourself in the Word, and continually praise Him.
YOU are the 1 He left the 99 for. Your suffering isn't in vain. You are not forsaken. God loves you enough to refine you and prepare you for His many blessings!