Have you ever found yourself in a season of waiting, wondering if God has forgotten you? Waiting can feel like an endless pause, filled with uncertainty and questions. Genesis 8 offers a profound reminder that God never forgets His people, even in the longest seasons of waiting.
“But God remembered Noah…” (Genesis 8:1 NIV)
This verse isn’t suggesting God had a lapse in memory. In Hebrew, “remembered” means to act on behalf of someone. God was actively working behind the scenes, setting His plan for restoration into motion. After months of being confined to the ark, Noah and his family must have felt the weight of uncertainty. Yet, God was orchestrating renewal all along.
Waiting isn’t easy. Noah’s family endured over a year on the ark, surrounded by water, uncertainty, and the daily challenges of caring for countless animals. The floodwaters didn’t vanish overnight; they receded slowly, just as God often works in our lives. His timing, though different from ours, is always perfect.
As the waters diminished, Noah sent out a raven and later a dove. The dove’s return with an olive leaf was a symbol of hope and new beginnings. Yet, even after receiving this sign, Noah waited until God said, “Come out of the ark.” Obedience meant waiting for God’s explicit direction, not just moving at the first sign of change.
When Noah finally stepped onto dry land, his first act was to build an altar and worship. This response challenges us: When God answers our prayers or leads us through a difficult season, is our first reaction gratitude? Worship acknowledges that God, not our efforts, brought us through.
God’s promise at the end of Genesis 8 is powerful: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans… As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:21-22 NIV). Even though humanity remains flawed, God’s covenant reflects His unwavering mercy and grace.
Perhaps you find yourself in a waiting season today. Be encouraged by Noah’s story. God sees you. He remembers you. He is working behind the scenes, even when you can’t see it. Like Noah, choose to trust, obey, and worship Him through the waiting. On the other side, you may find that God not only brings you through but offers you a fresh start.
Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness even in the waiting. Help me to trust Your timing and obey Your leading. Give me the patience to endure seasons of uncertainty, knowing that You are working all things for good. Let my life reflect gratitude and worship as I lean into Your promises. Amen.
For more reflections and practical ways to deepen your faith, listen to the full episode of the Hearing Jesus Podcast here: Seasons of Waiting
