Hope for Rats
An experiment with wharf rats holds a lesson about hope for all of us. For the study, scientists took some of these rats and placed each of them in a tub of water. They sprayed the tubs so the rats couldn’t roll over and float on their backs, but were forced to swim. After seventeen minutes of swimming the rats gave up and died.
The scientists then took another set of rats and repeated the same exact experiment. But this time, after sixteen minutes, just as the rats were about to die, they removed the rats from the tubs, dried them off, placed them in their cages, and fed them.
After a period of recovery, they were put back into the tubs of water under the same conditions as the original experiment. This time, the rats swam for more than thirty-seven hours before they died.
The conclusion was that the rats were able to endure for a much longer period of time because they had previously been saved, and this led them to hope they would be saved again. The rats were able to swim thirty-seven hours instead of seventeen minutes because they had hope.
The Bible says we are saved by hope.[1] I keep note of times when God came through for me. Every once in a while I read those accounts, especially in challenging days. Try reflecting on one-time God came through for you in the past. Watch the difference it makes in your heart today.
[1] Rom.8:24