Rain, rain go away, come again another day. In Sunday school I learned that only God has the power to control the weather like that. In fact, everything I needed to learn about life, I learned at Sunday school. Or, more specifically, from the story of Noah's Ark (see Genesis 6:9-9:17). Here are six important lessons we—even adults—can learn from this biblical story.

1. Don't miss the boat.
When the flood waters began to fall, Noah knew that he needed to be in the Ark with his family. He didn't lounge around in his bathing suit and say, “Maybe I'll hop in the boat a little later.” Nor did he rush around, busily trying to finish some other tasks first. He understood that his survival depended on being inside the Ark. Today, our salvation relies not on a boat, but upon a relationship with Jesus Christ. Don't wait until you're drowning—invite God into your life now. And remember to bring your friends and family along, too.

2. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. Noah spent years building the Ark before the Flood. At times, he probably wondered whether building this gigantic boat was the best use of his time. And I'm sure his neighbours thought he was a crazy fool. But the time Noah invested in building the Ark was crucial to the plans God had for Noah's family and the world. God isn't calling us to build a boat, but He is asking us to strengthen the foundations of our faith: spending time in conversation with Him; reading the Bible; serving others; and worshipping in a church community. So don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

3. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Noah was a very old man when God told him to build the Ark. He could have easily said, “Look, God, I'm retired and all I want to do is play shuffleboard and Scrabble. Leave me in peace.” But Noah obeyed God and went to work—he must have been in great physical health. Once we get into spiritual shape, we can't retire and coast along. We need to remain spiritually fit in case God asks us to do something really important for Him. And trust me, He wants to use us through all stages of our lives—but probably not when we're 600.

4. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
A pair of every living creature joined Noah and his family in the Ark—no one was left alone. God created us to live in community. It's important for our physical, emotional and spiritual health to have friends and family in our lives. And whether we're involved in church ministry or have just started learning how to pray or read the Bible, it's crucial to have fellow Christian believers alongside us. No matter where we are in our spiritual journeys, we all need someone who can support and encourage us. But we can't get hung up on comparing ourselves to others—we just need to keep moving closer and closer to Jesus. We're all on the same boat, but we have different needs and move at a different pace. Remember, the snails were on the Ark with the cheetahs.

5. The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Some of us look like we've got it all together, but unless we've got God in our lives, we're not truly prepared for obstacles that come our way. Some obstacles are unseen, lurking under the surface, so it's impossible to avoid them entirely. We can't rely on our education, careers and financial situations to keep us safe. But if we follow God's direction, and trust in His love, forgiveness and faithfulness, He will manoeuvre us through the icebergs of life that threaten to sink us.

6. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
There's an old saying, “When it rains, it pours.” Sometimes we're faced with overwhelming challenges and are unsure that we'll ever make it through. But God promises that He will never leave us stranded. The flood rains may come, and we may need to float a while, but eventually God will lead us to dry land. The rainbow that follows the storm reminds us that our God will look after us and keep us safe.

John McAlister is senior editor for The Salvation Army's Editorial Department. From 2006-2008, he served in Zimbabwe with his wife, Rochelle. John and Rochelle have a baby boy named Kieran Tinashe.