The Problem with Easy Living

I was recently looking over the story of Noah and the incredible way in which God saved mankind through the provision of the ark. It’s hard for us to fully comprehend the magnitude of that time in history where God wiped out every living thing that wasn’t chosen to be safely held within the gopher wood-paneled ark.

However, the thing that struck me in a new way was the amount of time they were in the ark. It rained for 40 days and nights, but they were in the ark for about 380 days! That’s over a year. In a boat! I’ve been on ferry journeys for a few hours and couldn’t wait to get off at the other end, and I didn’t have to share my personal space with a skunk and a rhinoceros!

As I read the story I wondered why it had to take so long. Why couldn’t God have just dried out a few hundred acres so that everyone could get on terra firma, breathe in some fresh air, and stretch their legs? Part of my problem, of course, is that I’ve become used to ‘easy living’. I became aware of the nice soft cushion I was sitting on, the fact that there was a watertight roof over my head and nice cool air blowing on me from the central air conditioning. If I needed something I could just jump into the car and go and get it. I didn’t even have to leave home, thanks to the wonders of Amazon!

Had any one of us been stuck on the ark we might have wondered what God was doing. Why was He delaying things? We might have started thinking God wasn’t caring for our needs. But the truth is, during every single moment Noah waited for the waters to recede, God’s care and loving-kindness for him was a hundred percent. The reason Noah didn’t get out of the boat earlier was simply because God knew that wasn’t the best plan for him. The door opened at the exact moment of God’s perfect timing.

I wonder how much we struggle in our lives with being ‘stuck on the boat’. Whether it’s job related, to do with a relationship, or a promise from God, remember today that God doesn’t fit into today’s easy living. He’s in no rush to bring about His purposes, but you can be sure of one thing – He will bring them about!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You hold all things in Your hands. Thank You that even if I don’t fully understand what You’re doing I can rest in the sure knowledge that You’re loving and kind, and that You care about my needs. I gladly surrender to Your will in my life today, in Jesus’ name, Amen.