Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Genesis 8:1-11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters gradually receded from the earth. At the end of one hundred fifty days the waters had abated; and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground; but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.

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Reflect

There have been times when it seemed as if life’s storms raged uncontrollably and no end was in sight. At times I have felt flooded in murky waters not knowing if, when, or how I would emerge from the murkiness. There are times when I have felt completely forgotten and alone. Forgotten by friends and family and even by God.

The story of Noah in Genesis chapter 8 reminds us that not only will our storms eventually calm and pass, but we will emerge from the dark waters into new ligh, enter dry land, and God will remember us. Verse 1a of chapter 8 tells us that “God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him on the ark.” God not only remembers us, but also all of God’s creatures. I find that comforting and pretty cool.

Though times get dark, and I can become overwhelmed, I know that no matter what storms rage in my life, God remembers me. That gives me the strength to wade through the rough waters of life.

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Pray

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for calming the storms of not only everyday life, but also the storms that threaten to swallow us. You and you alone are the only one who can calm the storms. Through Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Go with God!