Noah In The Audience

Delivered through the waters

There’s an old story about a man who survived the great Johnstown Flood back in the 1880s. He lived a long life afterward, carried that experience with him, and eventually passed on in the 1930s. When he arrived in heaven, he was being shown around and told that, in time, he would have the opportunity to share one story from his life on earth. Naturally, he chose the one that defined him — how he survived that catastrophic flood.

The evening came, and he stood ready to speak. The hall was filled with anticipation in the air. Just as he was about to step forward and tell everyone how he endured the raging waters, an angel gently tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, “Before you begin… just remember — Noah is in the audience.”

And that’s the moral of the story. Stay humble! Whatever storm we believe we survived by our own strength, we did not survive alone, and we were certainly not the first to face the waters. Scripture reminds us plainly, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6 KJV). It teaches us, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth” (Proverbs 27:2 KJV). And again, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6 KJV).

Every testimony we carry is real, and every trial matters, but perspective guards the heart. There is always someone who has walked deeper valleys, endured heavier trials, or witnessed greater deliverance. Ultimately, the story is never about human triumph alone — it is about the sustaining hand of God who brings His people through the waters. As Isaiah wrote, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee” (Isaiah 43:2 KJV).

So the lesson endures: tell your story with gratitude, not pride. Speak of survival with reverence, not boasting. And always remember: before you step forward to explain how you made it through the flood, keep your heart steady and your spirit humble… because Noah may be in the audience.