A Glimmer of Hope

I often have to hit rock bottom emotionally before starting to see a glimmer of hope.

Genesis 8:1-12

Reference: When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. (‭Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ NIV)

Explore: When life brings up challenges I wish I could say I rise above them instantly. But that would be a lie.

I often have to hit rock bottom emotionally before starting to see a glimmer of hope. Before the hope comes I question who I am and where my life is heading.

I sit in that dark place of feeling I am alone and I have failed.

But then I hear a word – maybe spoken by a friend or brought to my mind by God – and hope pokes its head around the corner. I think upon that word and more words come, and that glimmer of hope turns into a new perspective.

Soon enough the dark place is only a memory and I’m able to move on to a new journey.

Application: Noah had faced some challenges. Being on a boat surrounded by water for day after day would be enough to make anyone question the future.

When he first sent out a dove there was no change. A week later he sent out another and it came back with a glimmer of hope… An olive branch.

We all experience dark times and sometimes the olive branch does not come when we first ask for it. But trusting in God means an olive branch will come.

It will be a glimmer of hope that will remind you there is a God. He is gracious and loving and blesses you in ways you could not understand.

May we never forget our God in those dark places.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for sitting with us in the dark places. May we look to You for our glimmer of hope. Amen.

What glimmer of hope are you looking for?

challenges, future, Genesis, hope