Book of Job - Chapter 11 - Verse 16

When reading the verse 'Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:', we are reminded of the transient nature of suffering. Just as water flows and eventually disappears, so too can our misery dissipate over time. This verse serves as a message of hope and reassurance, emphasizing the idea that our troubles are not permanent but rather temporary. It encourages us to have faith that our current struggles will not last forever and that better days are ahead. By remembering our past hardships as fleeting as water that passes away, we are encouraged to focus on the present and look towards a brighter future. This verse offers comfort and strength to those going through difficult times, reminding them that their suffering will eventually fade away like water running downstream.

In this verse, the concept of forgetting one's misery is a powerful image that speaks to the redemptive power of God. When the psalmist speaks of forgetting one's misery, he is not simply talking about putting a difficult experience out of one's mind. Rather, he is pointing to a deeper transformation that takes place when one encounters the grace of God. The word "forget" can also be translated as "not attend to" or "disregard". This suggests that it is not a literal erasing of memory, but a shift in focus. By remembering the past troubles as "waters that pass away", the psalmist is emphasizing the fleeting nature of human suffering in the grand scheme of God's eternal plan. This imagery of water flowing away symbolizes the transient nature of our earthly struggles, which are but a moment compared to the everlasting love and mercy of God.