Noah is a man who had some serious patience! His story in Genesis shows him going from one long event to another. First he had to start out by building the ark. It took him 120 years to build that ginormous boat! Wow! And while he was building that boat, he was facing the scorn and ridicule of his friends and neighbors. That didn’t stop Noah from following God though. He continued to build and preach to those around him, hoping that he could save another soul. I mean, 120 years! I get impatient after 12 days. What faith Noah had in God.
His dedication is quite remarkable.
But then Noah enters another waiting period in his life. He hBe as completed the ark and is now sealed (by God no less) in this boat and they are waiting for something called rain. Rain, in my understanding, had never been seen before and what faith Noah is showing during this season! Imagine waiting for something that has never been experienced. Amazing! Then the rain starts falling and it falls for 40 days and 40 nights. But wait! There’s more! Noah and his family are on the ark with all those animals and very little light or ventilation for about a year.
Noah waits patiently, sending out doves and ravens to test the area. He removes the roof to the ark and still waits for God’s command to leave the ark.
After a car trip of a couple hours, I’m more than ready to get out and breathe some fresh air. Can you imagine Noah’s situation? But Noah had faith and he trusted in God.
So what do we do while we wait for God? Let’s explore some ideas;
- Acknowledge that God is sovereign and that He is in control. I think of Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11
- Come to terms with the fact that we are dependent on God. He gives us the very breath in our lungs!
- Be patient and quiet. Psalm 46:10
- Expect God to save you. God loves you and wants the best for you. Expect Him to rescue you from your current situation.
- Seek spiritual strength from God. When we can’t go any further, turn to God and allow Him to comfort you and give you strength. Seek God through constant prayer. He loves to hear from you and will listen to you always.
- Try not to worry or be afraid. When you start to fret about your situation, turn to God. Cry out to Him. He is there and He will give you peace.
- Learn about God and obey His commandment. While you are studying, God will show you things that you need to change or do or leave behind. Obey Him when He shows you these things.
- Finally, long for Christ’s return. Remind yourself that this world is temporary and that God has something so much better for us.
What happens when you and I wait on the Lord? Waiting gives us the opportunity to develop our trust in the Lord and to strengthen our faith in Him. We are forced to come to grips with the fact that He – and He alone – knows what he is doing. Waiting helps us grow in patience.
Here are some questions to journal about as you wait on God.
- What is God teaching me right now?
- What am I being saved from in this waiting period?
- What is God saying to me?
- How have I been connecting with God?
- What am I studying in the Bible right now?
- What have I been praying about?
- Am I encouraged or discouraged right now? If I’m encouraged, who can I share these words with? If I’m discouraged, what can I do to turn this around?
Hebrews 11:1 gives us a great definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Waiting energizes us for what is ahead.
Adventures in Abundance 
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