"God has not forgotten you."
Hearing those words, I was flooded with emotions. I hadn't realized how much I needed her. As tears streamed down my face, I understood how lonely and forgotten I had felt.
I was in the darkest time of my life. My husband had left our family, my body was deteriorating, and I was the father of two angry adolescent daughters who wanted nothing to do with "my" God. I felt unnoticed.
"The assurance that God is with us is the most precious gift we have in suffering."
But somehow, knowing that God hadn't forgotten me pushed me to reach out to him with renewed hope. Those simple words changed my mind and helped me focus on the truths I needed to remember. That the Lord was with me and would sustain me through this trial. That God used my suffering to accomplish something far greater than I could see or understand. And that my pain would not last longer than absolutely necessary.
These truths grounded me. And those three assurances still ground me today.
1. God will be with me.
The assurance that God is with us is the most precious gift we have in suffering.
Of course, as Christians we know that God is always with us and that there is nowhere to flee from His presence (Psalm 139:7-8), but actually feeling God's presence and comfort is something else. It has brought me joy when I was discouraged (Psalm 16:11), refreshed me when I was weary (Acts 3:20), and relieved my fear when I was in deep waters (Isaiah 43:2). God's presence was more evident to me in suffering than at any other time, making it a priceless treasure of darkness (Isaiah 45:3).
In Psalm 23, David begins by speaking about God and His loving care, saying, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). But when he goes into a place of danger and suffering, he shifts from talking about God to talking directly to Him. He says: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, forsheare with me” (Psalm 23:4). There is a closeness, a personal belonging to God, that David immediately feels in trouble.
The matchless presence of God in our pain underscores that a day of trial with Him is better than a thousand pain-free days anywhere else.
2. God has a good purpose for my suffering.
If my suffering were meaningless, I could not have endured it. I would have felt dejected, bitter, betrayed, full of regret and doubt, wondering if my bad decision or someone else's had kept me from having the successful life I longed for. Life would have felt unfair and even cruel.
But fortunately, I know that the opposite is true—my suffering was entrusted to me by God, and He uses every drop of it to fulfill His good purposes for me. It is full of meaning and will not be wasted even if all I can see at the moment is my loss. By faith I believe that God has a reason and purpose for my pain - maybe thousands of reasons - and they are all for my good, no matter how it looks or feels on the surface (Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20 ) . Even though I don't see or understand any of them, I know the Lord would never let me suffer needlessly. Now I see blurred in a mirror. I understand partially. But one day I will see face to face and fully understand (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Nor could the men and women in the Bible see God using their lives and struggles. They lived day by day as we do, disappointed, waiting and wondering why their life was so hard. But God used their pain for something more glorious than they could have imagined.
"A day of trial with God is better than a thousand happy days elsewhere."
And so it is with us. We must trust that God is using our suffering for something greater than we can now see. Our suffering accomplishes something eternal and prepares for us an incomparable weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). As with Joseph, our trials can serve to save many lives (Genesis 50:20) that we can only fully see in heaven. But we can be sure, as Joni Eareckson Tada tells: "We will give infinite thanks to God in heaven for the trials He has sent us here."
3. My pain will end one day.
No matter what pain we go through, if we are in Christ we can be sure it won't last forever. Our suffering is "current" and "for a little while" as we view and experience it in the light of eternity. God will make all things new; Infinite and painless joy awaits us in heaven.
But heaven may feel like a small consolation when days of pain on earth stretch into months and even years. We all want liberation in this life and many of us will see it. Nothing is beyond God's ability to redeem. He quickens the dead and gives life to things that do not exist (Romans 4:17). He knows exactly how long our pain will last and He will give us anything we need while we wait. Nothing is too difficult for him (Jeremiah 32:17). We can only live one chapter of our lives at a time, and none of us know exactly what the next chapter will bring. Tomorrow can bring salvation beyond our wildest dreams, as Naomi, Joseph, and Job experienced. Or maybe just a necessary break from our pain and suffering. Perhaps we will soon look back on today's trials and marvel at God's faithful hand in them.
But not all of us will be able to speak of pain in the past tense. Some of us will not experience reprieve in this life. We will die of an illness. Feel the lifelong pain of an acute loss. Live amidst broken dreams. Agony and wonder how our loved ones will cope. Struggling with debilitating physical and mental illnesses. We may never see the fulfillment of anything we believed God would do. Like the saints throughout Scripture who saw God's promises unfulfilled in their lifetime, we must trust that God has something better in store for us (Hebrews 11:13-16). A glorious legacy. Countless riches. crowns of glory. joys forever. When we belong to Him, our pain becomes safest and most completeEnd.
God has not forgotten you
God has all eternity to shower us with His goodness (Ephesians 2:7). As He promised, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor man's heart has known what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). And I am convinced that the less joy and reward we have received on earth, the greater our joy and reward in heaven will be.
As you struggle today, remember that God has not forgotten you. He engraved you on his palms (Isaiah 49:15-16). He will never let you down or leave you. He will walk with you through every dark valley. The God who has counted every hair on your head and knows every sparrow that falls to the ground knows every detail of your situation. He uses your suffering and pain in ways you wouldn't believe if someone told you.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, Himself will restore, strengthen, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
FAQs
How do I know that God has not forgotten me? ›
If you are struggling today, remember God has not forgotten you. He has engraved you on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:15–16). He will never fail you or forsake you. He will walk with you through every dark valley.
What to do when you feel like God has forgotten about you? ›If you're feeling forgotten, by others or by God, let your hope swell and your joy return by intentionally believing that God will never leave you and is always by your side. Make a commitment to focus on God's presence and the blessings He's given you, and let God be the source of your joy.
When God says he'll give you back better than what you lost? ›Deuteronomy 30:3-13 In-Context
3 God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he'll have compassion on you; he'll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. 5 and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again.
We can lean on God's promise to never leave us or to forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). It is only Jesus, while hanging on a cross, with the sin of all the world upon him, whom God had in fact abandoned. And in his anguish, Jesus echoed David's wail, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
What happens when God remembers a person? ›When God remembers you, He will influence situations in your favour and your prayers will be answered. Every promise God has made to you will be fulfilled when He remembers you. This season, God will remember you for good in Jesus name.
How do you know when God has talked to you? ›This can happen through prayer, contemplation and/or time in the Bible. We begin to discern God's voice over the noise of our world as we give time to these disciplines. The Holy Spirit begins speaking to us. We begin to hear God through those around us, circumstances and even our conscience.
Why do I feel God is so far away? ›For you, too, the experience of feeling that God is far away may be the means by which a new desire for God grows in your own heart. The felt distance of God can be the means by which a complacent, self-absorbed Christian comes to a new experience of hungering and thirsting after God.
What does the Bible say about feeling abandoned by God? ›Deuteronomy 3:18 (GNTD):The Lord himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid. Philippians 4:6-7: Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
How do you pray when you feel abandoned by God? ›A prayer for when you feel abandoned by God
Help me also, to remember all the times that you have come through for me, and all that you've done for me. You are my Helper and the One who lifts my head no matter how bad things may seem! For your glory, honor and praise and in the Name of Jesus, amen.
God never removes something from our lives without replacing it with something far better. It might not seem so at the time, but we later marvel at God's wisdom and goodness. Obey Him and heed what the Bible says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
How does God restore lost years? ›
God can restore lost years by multiplying your fruitfulness.
The harvests for these people had been wiped out for four years, but God restored the years that the locusts had eaten by giving bumper harvests.
God promises to restore us. “I will restore them because of my compassion” (Zechariah 10:6) and “I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore” (Isaiah 57:18). God can restore you. He can take what's wrong in your life and make it right.
Does God owe us anything? ›God does not owe us anything. Interestingly, we owe Him everything. He has given us the opportunity for living eternally with Him. He has provided the opportunity for total and complete forgiveness for every wrong we have ever done or will do.
What does God say to do when you feel lonely? ›Isaiah 41:10, which says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” is a good Bible verse for when you feel lonely.
Does God miss you? ›He loves you and misses you. Out of God's love, he called Solomon and told him to ask for what he desired. Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding (1 Kings 3.5). Solomon dedicated his heart to the will of God, and if the purpose of God is a success, you will also succeed.
What God does to your brain? ›About How God Changes Your Brain
Not only do prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress, but just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow down the aging process. Contemplating a loving God rather than a punitive God reduces anxiety and depression and increases feelings of security, compassion, and love.
This gift is memory. Thurman defines memory as, “one of God's great gifts to the human spirit without which neither life nor experience could have any meaning.”
What does God do when someone dies? ›Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.' ” "He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds." "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life."
What does God's voice sound like? ›The Bible more often portrays God's voice as sounding ordinary and meek than as booming and thunderous.
How does God get our attention? ›Attention involves the whole person. God deals with each one of us personally and individually. God gets our attention by events, by happenings, and especially through others. God gets our attention through his Word, the Bible.
How does Holy Spirit speak to us? ›
The voice of the Spirit is described in the scriptures as being neither loud nor harsh, not a voice of thunder, neither a voice of great tumultuous noise, but rather as still and small, of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it can pierce even the very soul and cause the heart to burn.
Why do I feel so angry with God? ›People can become enraged at God if they think God should have protected them in the way that they think He should have, if He didn't answer their prayers in the time frame that they specified, or if they no longer feel His presence.
What does God presence feel like? ›It always feels like someone else is there. The Bible says: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18.20). The Bible also says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5, Joshua 1.5).
Why is God watching over us? ›The Lord watches over us because He loves us, protects us and He is interested in what we are doing. Our Lord is the perfect parent who pays close attention to His children. He knows we are helpless like sheep.
What does the Bible say about being in your darkest hour? ›"Your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun" (Isaiah 58:10). With God, even our darkest times have hope because He is with us.
What is total abandonment to God? ›Abandonment to God is simultaneously an act of faith, hope and love. It is the sure path to the knowledge of God, and it is the sure path to salvation. Abandonment to God, as taught by Caussade, appears to be a Christian parallel of Hindu bhakti, the complete surrender of the soul to God in love.
What does it mean when God goes silent? ›God is sometimes silent because He knows we aren't willing to obey. He is always ready to show us His will, but He shows His will only to those who really want to do it. Jesus said in John 7:17, "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine." Obedient people always hear the voice of God.
Where is God when you're hurting? ›When You're Hurting, God is with You. The simple answer is, He is there with you.
Where is God when you are suffering? ›When we are suffering, God is right beside us. Nothing can separate us from His love. He wants to show us His love through His church, and give us a purpose through His Word!
What is Spirit rejection? ›It is the sense of being unwanted and unable to receive love from others. You will break free from manifestations of rejection such as perfectionism, fear, withdrawing from life, pride, self-reliance, people pleasing, lust, insecurity, inferiority, shame, and more.
Why does God remove someone you love? ›
One reasons God removes people from our lives is when these people are getting in the way of our connection with Christ. Our hearts are always looking for help. When we have a bad day, a bad week, a bad month, or even a bad year, our hearts crave something from the outside to come in and make us happy.
Can God reverse the past? ›He can heal our bodies, our minds and even change the events of our life, for nothing is impossible for Him. There are so many places in the Bible where God actually changed the past. Consider all those whom He raised from the dead, the most famous and well-known was Jesus Christ Himself, in the glorious resurrection.
Why does God put someone in your life? ›You need supportive relationships if you're going to make it in life, and God has put people in your life for your health and your healing.
How God can change your past? ›In verse 12, God says, "For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more." This is where God changes the past of all who commit their lives to Him. He forgives our sins and forgets them! Don't we wish we could forget them!
How does God restores your soul? ›God restores your soul by leading you to Jesus Christ, and that is what He was doing through the ministry of Isaiah 700 years before the birth of Jesus, and that is what he wants to do in your life today.
Can God restore a broken family? ›God can restore families and use the tragedies that so deeply hurt us now to move us forward in the purposes for which He created us. So call out to Him as your Father, and pray for His mercy on you and your home. Trust in His love for you and never give up.
How does God use our mistakes? ›God Uses Our Failures To Reveal Our Sin And Change Our Futures: God can use our brokenness and our failed experiences to reveal our sin and change the course of our lives forever. In our brokenness, it is safe to say that we need Jesus. But in our sinful state, it is often impossible for us to admit this.
What will take us away from God? ›Clinging on to life takes us away from the God who gave it to us, and this ironically means we will lose it. Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
What God says about losing people? ›There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Does God pay attention to me? ›God is attentive to our burdens, our stresses, and our emotions. His offer to hear our prayers is so personal that it is on the level of one of our children asking us for a snack.
Does God want us to make money? ›
God wants you to be able to earn money. Proverbs 13:11 says this, “He who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” He who gathers money little by little makes it grow. There are four ways, four classic ways that God has given us for earning money. Number one, our labor.
How Much Does God care for us? ›He gives us all we need for every good work, Ephesians 6.10-12. He provides escape from temptation, 1 Corinthians 10.13. And, He provides us with the necessary discipline in order to bring correction to our spiritual life, Hebrews 12.6-11. God provides us with His constant love and care.
How do you heal the inner loneliness? ›- Give the emotion full expression. Let the emotion take center stage. ...
- Go into silence. Silence can be difficult and even scary for some people. ...
- Engage in mindful meditation. ...
- Take care of the body. ...
- Serve. ...
- Connect with nature. ...
- Practice loving-kindness meditation. ...
- Fall in love with yourself.
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” The Good News: Though you may feel defeated, God is closer than you realize. He is always with you and can heal your heart.
Solitude helps you get to know yourself.
Making choices on your own will help you develop better insight into who you are as a person. Being alone will help you grow more comfortable in your skin as well. The more you know yourself, the better equipped you'll be to be your authentic self when others are around.
When we feel fear, sadness, or despair, our vocabulary of words just can't seem to communicate as well as weeping does. But, God sees your tears. He hears your cry. He is mindful of what scares you and stresses you and saddens you.
Can God hear you crying? ›God Hears You
He hears our cries of unhappiness, pain, frustration, exhaustion, and fear. We can be honest with Him. His listening ear is always open to our prayers. His loving heart wants to embrace us as we cry on His shoulder.
Even before God became man, it's clear throughout the Old Testament that God feels sorrow, even weeps for the crushing blows of His people. Psalm 34:18 promises us that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” How can you be close to someone who is brokenhearted and not feel their pain?
How do you know if you are drifting away from God? ›Your relationship with God has faded; your prayers and devotions have become shallow or nonexistent. You may feel empty, like something's missing; or on the other hand, you feel so full of anxiety or sadness that it's overwhelming. You've drifted in your faith, and your life has become infected with spiritual sepsis.
How do you know if God is telling you not to be with someone? ›You will know when God is behind a relationship or when Satan is behind a relationship based upon how this relationship is affecting your connection to Christ. If you feel more and more distant from God the closer you get with this person, this is a sign God does not want you in this relationship.
What does the Bible say about God not remembering our sins? ›
31:34; Heb. 8:12; 10:16-17). When God forgives our sins; He forgets them. That means He no longer holds our sins against us.
What are the signs that God is angry with you? ›- God is Silent. ...
- You Do Not Feel Guilty About Your Sin Anymore. ...
- You Keep Stumbling Upon Bible Verses Calling for Repentance. ...
- You are Humiliated. ...
- You Face the Consequences of Your Sin. ...
- There is Calm Before the Storm. ...
- Your Heart is Full of Resentment. ...
- Your Prayers Are Not Answered.
- 1 You have a gut feeling.
- 2 He disregards your boundaries.
- 3 He pushes you to disobey God.
- 4 You don't feel in control around him.
- 5 He's become more important to you than God.
- 6 He doesn't share your commitment to God.
- 7 You don't enjoy your time together.
THE VOICE OF GOD; God also reveals by His voice, that is if you are used to hearing God when He speaks to your heart, He can just tell you the person when you meet him or her, but after the voice there will be confirmations, through His word concerning what He told you.
Is there forgiveness without forgetting? ›Yes, that's right. Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting. The act of forgiveness is more about letting go of your anger, sadness, disappointments, and frustration. Forgetting, on the other hand, is extremely difficult to do.
Do you reunite with your spouse in heaven? ›HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SPOUSES, LOVED ONES IN HEAVEN
A. Yes to both. The reunion will take place, but not as husband and wife. We learn this in Jesus' explanation to the Sadducees: "When people rise from death, there will be no marriage.
Second, God did not design us to forgive and forget, for then we hope in vain the pain will go away, and it doesn't. At best, we learn to live with the pain. He designed us to forgive, and then let Christ come into our lives, and heal us of the pain and wounds we experienced.
What causes anger at God? ›People can become enraged at God if they think God should have protected them in the way that they think He should have, if He didn't answer their prayers in the time frame that they specified, or if they no longer feel His presence.
What do haughty eyes look like? ›The word haughty comes from an old Anglo-French word, haut, which means “high,” and which comes from the Latin word altus, from which we get our word altitude. Putting all that together, we find that haughty eyes are the kind of eyes that look down at other people, as if the one looking down is “higher up” than others.