God Didn’t Forget About You
I recently posted a post on threads reflecting on where I was in April 2024. I was drowning last year, and this year it feels like God threw me a life raft.
Screenshot of threads post.
Usually, when we are going through some of our toughest trials and tribulations, it feels like we are so alone and for some of us, physically, we are. I remember when I had a season of life where I was crying my eyes out every single day for months at a time and not too many knew. I felt sad, I felt lonely, and I felt like God didn’t care about and forgot about me. I was angry, I was bitter, and I was chaotic — mostly to myself, but when I was feeling fancy, I pulled others into my web of chaos too.
I wasn’t at my healthiest or happiest, yet I masked it and drowned it as best as I could. As encouraging as I can be towards others, it was hard for me to reciprocate that energy towards myself. Then one day, I came across this scripture that reminded me that God stays close to the brokenhearted.
I’ll be honest — it took me a minute to believe it. To understand it. To realize that just because I was going through one of the worst seasons of my life, didn’t mean that God hates me or that he forgot about me. He was just pruning me and helping me realize that where I depended on people to show up, He was always there. Sometimes silent, always watching, always covering, always giving me the strength to do and be what he created me for. I also learned that God isn’t offended by my doubt per se, He just wanted me to be honest about them and be receptive to Him showing me different.
Imagine that.
Grief will really have you tweaking out.
But guess what friend?
God didn’t forget about you.
There’s an idiom that’s often repeated to people when they are dealing with the ebbs and flows of life: God gives the toughest battles to His strongest soldiers … but I’m not sure if I am fully on board with that because no one is willingly signing up to be dragged through the mud by life! Like girl…please lol.
But even amidst the dragging-me-by-the-edges that life likes to do, God still didn’t forget about you.
Account on low, eviction looming around the corner, and that man taking you through it… yeah, God didn’t forget about you.
Going through physical pain, trying to recover, trying to keep your sanity intact? Yeah, God didn’t forget about you.
Wading through the grief and bitterness of mourning people who aren’t even physically dead? Yeah, God didn’t forget about you.
Mentally blocked and trying to create your way through it? God didn’t forget about you.
One thing that is inevitable about the human experience is going through trials and tribulations that will have you questioning yourself, your faith, and whether God has forgotten about you or not. Although there may be evidence that you have overcome every single trial and tribulation that has plagued you thus far, it still doesn’t minimize those feelings of doubt that creep through.
But what a joy that feelings — while valid — aren’t facts.
So while I could feel like God was just sitting back and watching me get beat up by life, I know that’s not true.
And I know this because … I’m still here. I am intact. I am doing better than I could even imagine. I just had to get to the other side. That scripture that says you should cast your cares on the Lord? Yeah, start doing that. Every intrusive thought I have in my head, I talk to God about it. And sometimes, he’s silent. Other times, he moves swiftly, offering that reassurance that things may suck right now, but they will eventually get better.
My prayer for you, who is reading this is that you realize that sometimes the teacher (God) is silent when the student (us) is taking a test. But sometimes, the teacher (God) is quietly walking around, observing how we’re doing. Sometimes the Teacher may offer a reassuring pat on the back, and even check in with us when the test is over. But at no point during the test, did the Teacher leave the room. God is the same way.
I pray you’re able to recognize that God loves you — all of you — even the parts that make others cringe and roll their eyes. Even the parts that you may hate. I pray you realize that God is the safest place to let your mask fall and be vulnerable. I pray that you realize that He is a comforter, a redeemer, the one being that will stand ten toes in front and behind you. I pray you understand that regardless of how “good” of a person you are, life will life — and that’s okay. No, it doesn’t mean you deserve it or that you’re unworthy of God’s love and protection. Those are things that we don’t have to audition for or earn. Finally, I pray that you understand that even when it feels like it, God will never forget about you. I encourage you to talk to Him. Just as you are, however you wanna say it: God is listening and he hears you.
Song recommendation: Things Will Get Better x Cleo Sol
Scriptures: Psalm 34:18 - “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV)
1st Peter 5:7 - “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (NIV)
Journal prompt question for you:
Think about a time in your life where you felt like God forgot about you. What made you remember that he didn’t?