Unsinkable Hope: God’s Promises and Your Mental Health预览

What we do when our storm is over shows where our heart was during the storm.

What was the first thing he did when Noah finally stepped onto dry land after 377 days in the ark? Scripture tells us that Noah built an altar. Before anything else, he chose to worship God and thank Him for delivering his family through the flood.

This was not a spontaneous decision. We often picture the animals entering the ark two by two. In Genesis 7, however, we see God instruct Noah to bring seven pairs of clean animals. What if Noah was already planning this worship moment while still on the ark? What if he knew what he wanted to do when he finally reached dry land? What if he wanted to thank God for faithfully carrying him through?

If you reflect on your experiences and the testimonies of people you love and admire, you know God does powerful work in our hearts during storms. When we come out on the other side of adversity, we are different because of what God did in us during that difficult season.

Nicky Gumbel once wrote, "Who you are becoming while you are waiting is as important as what you're waiting for." When you pray, “God, get me out of here,” you may miss the opportunity for God to transform who you are.

Noah was grateful during the storm, which made him thankful when the storm ended. It's challenging to be grateful when God blesses us with success if we aren't thankful during adversity. If we can't praise God in the storm, then when prosperity comes, we're tempted to take credit for ourselves.

God often takes us through challenging circumstances to prepare us for moments of success or prosperity. He forms us in those seasons where we feel like something's happened to us that we didn't choose.

So many of us have heard teaching that God is going to bless us all with prosperity. The Scriptures say that God wants to bring us into an abundant life and give good gifts to His children. But that will not always look like material prosperity — if it did, there would be no poor people among the followers of Jesus. None of us would ever lose our jobs or struggle financially after becoming followers of Jesus.

However, God sustains us in adversity. Prosperity may come for us, but what's most important is that God builds our character in adversity so that we can enjoy prosperity without it ruining our relationship with Him.

Noah praised God when he walked out of the ark because he had been praising God all along.

Prayer

Father, thank You for reminding me that my response to life's storms shapes who I become. Help me learn to worship You, not just after the storm passes but during its fiercest moments. I want to praise You in both adversity and prosperity. Transform my heart so that gratitude becomes my first response, no matter my circumstances. Amen.

Today's Reflection

What is your typical first response to adversity? How might your experience change if your first reaction was gratitude and worship instead of complaint or discouragement?