Noah waited, I can wait too

Noah had been on the ark for over a year, trapped on a boat with the only other 7 human beings alive at that time and countless animals. The conditions were not the best to say the least, not exactly the cruise of a lifetime. The entire earth's population had been destroyed, Noah and his family must have undergone tremendous mourning for all that had been unwilling to head the warning of God. And here they sit, on an ark that is full of life stock and wild life. Noah had sent out ravens and a dove and on the last test the dove did not return. At this point in the story I had imagined that Noah and crew ran off the boat and prayed they would never have to step foot on an ark again, at least that is what I would have done. After over a year, seriously, the dove did not come back, we are good, lets go. But Noah was far more patient then I, he waited for another 2 months and then he heard the voice of God, "Leave the boat, all of you-" (Genesis 8:16) and they obeyed. He did not beat it out of the boat at the first sign of dry land, he waited and waited and then waited some more. He was waiting to hear the voice of God, he spent over a year on an ark and he was still patient.

We just reached the year mark on our adoption journey, I was quite hopeful that the girls would be home by now but instead we wait for our first court date. But as I read the story of Noah I thought at least I am not on ark with the only other 7 people alive! My conditions are incredibly comfortable and blessed. So, we wait to hear the voice of God - "Leave the boat Ruppels, all of you." And we wait and we pray and He is teaching me to wait and pray with patience and thanksgiving in my heart because I wait to hear His voice, what could be more incredible then that?! The voice of God finally calling me off my ark. So, I am waiting, right at the door with bags packed and ready to go but I will not settle for anything less then the voice of God. His voice calling me into this crazy love thing called adoption... His voice calling me into doing more for the orphans, widows and the lost... His voice calling me into East Africa to do whatever He asks of me.

But, in the past I have tended to jump ship to early, to say no worries God, I am good, I can swim! And He has kindly bailed me out just as I was going under, put me back on my ark and told me I had a few more survival skills to master before I walk off my ark. So, please pray for me that I will be patient like Noah and that I will wait with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips. And I will pray for you ~ that when your call comes from the God of the universe, when He calls you off your ark that you are waiting at the door with your bags packed.