Lessons from the Flood

Genesis 8

I am reading through my Bible again and am currently in the book of Genesis. There are so many good lessons to learn from this wonderful book, but as I read chapter 8 this morning, I was reminded of a few things that have helped me during the deep valleys of my life.

God will not forget me.

Genesis 8:1 – And God remembered Noah…

In chapter 8, we find Noah and his family coming to the end of their 40 days and 40 nights in the ark. The rain has stopped, and the storm has passed. The first verse of this chapter teaches us a beautiful lesson in just the first four words. Great comfort is found in this verse. As I read it, I was impressed with the fact that God will not forget me, even when I am walking through the darkest valley of my life. Even when I do not understand all that He is doing; even when I do not know how to take the next step; even when I cannot see the way out, God will bring me through it all. He sees me and remembers me.

Every day will get better.

Genesis 8:5 – And the waters decreased continually…

One never knows what to expect after going through a storm or a deep valley in life. Things can be so uncertain and scary. I cannot imagine how Noah and his family must have felt as they waited for the exact moment to open the window of the ark and then to see that the rain had finally stopped! What a relief they must have felt!

If the truth be told, though, we rarely can tell how things will turn out in the aftermath of a storm while we are in it. However, of one thing we can be certain: every day will get better. One day at a time, putting one foot in front of the other and doing one thing at a time, things will get back to normal again.

Losing a spouse due to illness or a tragic event or coming out on the other side of an unexpected diagnosis is never easy. No one just bounces back up to do what she has always done without feeling the loss or pain. Grief is inevitable, but God promises us that life will get better.

Recovery takes time.

Genesis 8:11 – And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

In the verses prior to this, Noah waited yet another 40 days before sending out a raven to scan the earth, but all it did was go …to and fro… Then Noah sent out a dove, but she also found no place to rest and returned to the ark. After seven days, he sent out the dove again. This time, she came back with an olive leaf in her beak! Noah now knew that the waters had abated, or dried up. After waiting yet another seven days, he knew it was time to open the door of the ark.

Each person, after going through a trial, eventually will find their way to a new normal. For some people, it may take days; for others, it may take weeks, months, or years. It may seem like an eternity to get to a place of recovery, but when the storm is over and the flood waters recede, we will know that it is okay to live again.

Stop and thank the Lord.

In Genesis 8:20-21 – And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour…

This truth may be the most important thing God taught me from this chapter. When God brings us through a trial, it is imperative to take the time to stop and thank Him for His deliverance. Only God can bring us out of a deep valley. When He does, we need to acknowledge Him and thank Him for His divine protection and guidance. Grief is normal and necessary; do not be afraid or ashamed to shed tears. However, spend some time with family or alone just praising the Lord for His goodness, even in the midst of the storm.

One day, the flood will be over, and you will walk out on dry ground, knowing God’s grace has brought you there to stand in the sunshine once again!

by April Hernandez

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