It might be tempting to feel forgotten by God.
Sometimes I even feel justified in thinking that way.
After all, it’s been a rough year. Scratch that, it’s been a challenging couple of years.
I really don’t want to seem ungrateful and believe me, I’ve been trying really hard to keep a positive spin on things.
Some days I’m really good at looking on the bright side, but some days? Well, some days are just plain hard.
Just today a friend sent me a message which said, “trials are blessings not yet realised”.
Can I just be honest with you?
I’ve had it with all the trials. I’m ready for the blessings to take full effect.
Have you ever felt that way?
Like maybe God really has forgotten you?
Like He’s too busy blessing every one else to think about you?
Friend, I feel your pain.
I can’t pretend to know exactly what you’re going through and I don’t want to underestimate your struggles. But I can share some truth I’ve been speaking to myself in hopes that it might help you too.
So, if you ever feel forgotten by God take some time to meditate on these scriptures:
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 ESV
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 ESV
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 ESV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 ESV
And since I can relate to feeling alone at times, I humbly offer these extra tips:
- Lose yourself in God’s Word (Psalm 119)
- Surround yourself with believers who will support and encourage you and speak the truth in love (James 5:16)
- Be aware that your feelings are not Truth (Jeremiah 17:9)
- Remember that this too shall pass (Matthew 24:35)
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Finally, allow me to reiterate the verse which says, “God will never leave you nor forsake you”. That was Jesus’ promise to us before He went up to heaven. He wants you to know for sure that you are not forgotten, my friend.
How about you?
Do you feel forgotten by God? What helps you get out of the pit?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Help spread the shine
By the way, if you’re new here, you may not know that this is my first post since my islands — the British Virgin Islands — were hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. A month ago, life was upended for hundreds of thousands of people in the Caribbean (including me), due to these mega storms.
I know firsthand what it’s like to feel forgotten as the world moves on to the next news item. And to be fair, there are a lot issues that warrant our attention and support. Still, the post-disaster needs are too many for us to bear on our own and we sure can use your help.
If you feel moved to support the hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean, here are a few links I recommend:
Hurricane Irma relief:
My sister Carlie started a fundraising site to help Convoy of Hope provide ongoing relief to the hardest hit areas. Convoy of Hope was the first one on the ground providing relief directly to us within days after Irma. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful and are more than honoured to be able to give back in this way.
British Virgin Islands:
These sites have been vetted and approved by the Government of the Virgin Islands:
- Donations can be made to the BVI Hurricane Irma Relief Fund here:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bvi-touristboardhurricaneirma
- You may also support the BVI Recovery Fund:
https://www.pledgeling.com/virgin-islands-recovery/
Puerto Rico:
- Make a donation to the Puerto Rico relief fund through a local church: http://www.iglesiadecristopr.org/
The wider Caribbean:
- Buy a #KeepCalmCaribbean t-shirt to support Caribbean chapters of HOPE worldwide. I designed these t-shirts specifically for the purpose of raising funds for those who need it most. All proceeds go directly to HOPEworldwide who will put the donations to good use based on the most pressing needs. Islands such as Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Dominica, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix stand to benefit.
Note: the t-shirt campaign has ended but you can still support HOPEworldwide’s hurricane relief efforts here.
Most of all, I invite your continued prayers for my Caribbean, my friends and my family. We have a long way to go on the road to recovery, but I am convinced that God has not forgotten us.
If for one minute I doubted God’s presence, He used the love and support expressed by many of you to reassure me. I have been lifted up in prayer, received words of encouragement and benefited from the very kind and generous financial support of family and friends near and far.
Words are not enough to express my gratitude for the concern you’ve shown and for your very gracious support. You have literally been the hands and feet of the gospel to me and I am truly humbled and grateful.
Thank you!
Wishing you blessings,
If you enjoyed this post, don’t keep it to yourself. Please spread the shine and share this with your friends using the share buttons below.
And if you’re looking for more encouraging and inspiring content, check out these amazing sites where I link up my weekly posts.
Love you, friend! We are all holding you up in prayer. You are an amazing testimony of faith that tells you what you cannot see and sometimes cannot even feel. God’s Truth is truth. It is unfailing. He is with you♥
Love,
Lori
You’ve been on my mind often since the storms hit you, and since Lori Schumaker posted about you. I am praying for you upon every remembrance of you, Marva. Sharing this excellent post on Pinterest, FB, and Twitter, friend.
Thanks again for faithfully linking up with us at the #LMMLinkup this past week. This post really inspired me and I have saved to read again on days I feel down. I love the scriptures that you shared. I selected it as my favorite post for this week’s linkup. http://maryanderingcreatively.com/lmmlinkup-making-faith-work/
I’m so glad you’re safe! I kept waiting for your first post back to breath a sigh of relief. Certainly my family’s prayers and support are with you. My husband is brokenhearted by Dominica and the other islands as well. He went to school there and has emotional ties. Persevere sister…
My heart has been breaking for Dominica too, Meg. I have a friend from there who now lives in the US. She went back with a group of nurses and met up with a team from a nearby HOPEworldwide chapter and together they were able to help some of the hurting there. It’s been hard to watch the devastation and I can only imagine how your husband feels. Let’s continue to pray for them!
Marva, your heart must be breaking with all the devastation on your islands. You are right – the news moves on – sadly, yet God does not forget. His promises to you remain true. Hold onto them.
Aww…thanks, Rachel. I’m so glad that God is close to the broken-hearted. Reading your words reminded me of that promise! Thanks so much!
Boy Marva, I know what you’ve been through in recent years and truthfully…it’s unimaginable. Yet we have blessed assurance that Christ loves us….even WHEN he doesn’t move our mountains. I just know he is doing a good work in your heart, but there’s nothing wrong with feeling weary and longing for a season of peace and restoration. That is my prayer for you and your family today. A nice long season of peace and restoration! Love you girl.
Thank you so much, Sarah. I think until you said that, I was really feeling like asking for peace (you know a sort of break from all the bad news) would be selfish. You’ve reminded me that God wants me to be real with Him, including crying out to Him in my moments of weakness. Thank you, sweet friend!
Marva, I was so happy to see that you had posted, especially in light of the recent hurricane devastation in the area of your home. Praising God for His protection over you and your family.
Just the other day I allowed the thought to enter my mind. “Has God forgotten me?” I have been suffering with one health issue after the other, none of them serious per se, but all very disconcerting. I have prayed, my church has prayed, yet nothing is changing which made me vulnerable to the lie that God had forgotten me.
Thank you so much for all these encouraging Scripture verses. They came at just the right time and blessed me.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Karen, I can certainly see why you would feel that way. It must be so hard waiting for your prayers to be answered in the way you hope. I can only believe that God is working something better for you and I pray He gives you an enduring faith to believe that.
The enemy would want nothing more than for us to give in to the lie that says God has forgotten us. Thankfully, God’s Word tells us better!
I’m praying for you today!
Hi Marva, so relieved to know you are safe. We can only imagine the devastation the islands are going through.
I have been struggling with depression on and off for a great majority of my life and this time of year is especially difficult as I lost my daughter in September ’92 and my mom in Oct ’83. Driving home from a challenging shift at work, I felt depleted, then I looked up into the green on green hills and felt immediately rejuvenated and hopeful. The verse you put on your blog -” I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 ESV, is so true. We just need to remember to look up towards to the Lord and not be downcast.
Oh, Deborah, my heart goes out to you. Losing a loved one is never easy and I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child. Then your mom too, oh my!
I pray that God will always provide those moments of hope and rejuvenation, especially in those times when you’re feeling low.
I too am trying to keep my mind on things above. It’s not easy but with God, it can be done!
Wishing you blessings!
Marva, I was so happy to see your post on the link-up and know you are back!! We have been praying for you and so many. I know the recovery continues and so will the prayers, but this made my day. I’m sure there is much news and plenty of reflections that accompany these kinds of challenges, and God will make a way for your writing to be an even greater ministry. Hugs!
Thanks so much, Crystal. It felt good to visit with you and your linkup friends today and I’m grateful for the words God allowed me to share.
As far as reflections go, I pray that God will show me how much, when and with whom I need to share. I waver between having lots to say and feeling completely speechless, yet I know He will guide me well.
a blessing from your more than enough trials is this post! when i’ve felt forsaken, i’ve gone to the psalms and invited friends over for coffee and asked them to share a time when God was faithful. we are forgetful folk, and need one another. may you feel the encouragement of your Savior today, dear Marva.
tweeted and will share.
Thanks for sharing, Sue.
You’re right, we are forgetful and we need those reminders that God has already gone ahead of us. He promised to never leave or forsake us — and that is more than good news.
Blessings to you!
Yes, a way to help the other affected islands. I’m glad you’re hanging in there and resting on the assurance of His presence.
Hugs!
Thank you, Nylse. I’m so grateful to be in a position to help those who’ve been affected in other islands. As bad as things might seem for me, it’s clear that there are those who have it worse. And if I can #spreadtheshine for someone else, I’m happy!
Marva, you have come to mind so many times over the past few weeks. I am praying for you! Thanks for such an encouraging post!
Kelly, your prayers are more appreciated than you know. So many times since the storm I have seen God show up in powerful ways. I’m convinced it’s prayers like yours that’s been sustaining me and pushing me forward. Thank you, thank you!
Sure do you love you, my dear friend. Sending a hug your way! And praising God that you are safe!!
It’s so good to ‘see’ you, Alison. Believe me, this really does give me a new perspective and so much to be grateful for.
Bless you, my friend.
It’s so great to see a post from you. You are such an inspiration of faith to me. Love you Marva!
Aww…thanks, Valerie. It feels good to be on the way back. Love you too, friend!
Wishing you blessings aplenty.