Boats To Build

Everyone has a project going on. Sometimes our projects are related to our hobbies and personal interests, or perhaps we are working on our relationships or career. Nevertheless, we are all working on a project.

Noah was working on a project, too. As I recall, God specifically asked him to take on a task. ("Make thee an ark..." Genesis 6:14 "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." Genesis 6:22)

In the coming months, Noah must have suffered ridicule from his neighbors and even his friends because his task seemed so absurd. After all, he was building a giant boat in his front yard! Still, he persisted. Day after weary day, he worked relentlessly toward the goal. Oh, did I mention that he was six-hundred years old at the time? He surely became discouraged at times. Perhaps the progress was so slow that he even wanted to give up completely. Still, he kept on. Month chased month, season pursued season, until eventually, all was ready. How relieved Noah must have felt as large drops of rain pelted his face. The storm was brewing, but he was ready.

Now, fast forward to today: back to work on our projects. But, let's see what we can learn from Noah's experience.

First, once you have personally committed yourself to the project---keep going! No matter what anyone else says or does---just keep going. After all, it's YOUR project. Then, when you do get discouraged, and you will, remember that God kept Noah supplied. He had everything he needed to get the work done. He will supply your needs, as well. ("But my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19) Only you can slow or stop your success. Keep moving forward. ("Despise not the day of small beginnings..." Zechariah 4:10) Finally, at the end of each day or step in the project, stop and look around and say out loud, "It's good." It doesn't have to be entirely finished yet. ("...and God saw that it was good..." Genesis 1: 10,12,18,21,25,31) Train yourself to inspect your own work and believe that it is good.

So, no matter what the project is, there are certain things we can always do:

*set the overall goal: be very specific---it is harder to measure success when you are vague about the outcome
*break the job down into smaller parts---concentrate on one section at a time (I doubt that Noah was out rounding up animals when he still had boards to bend!)
*be confident and pleased with each level of success

Let's face it. Life is hard and full of difficult situations. But, God is still our helper. As surely as He aided Noah with his project, He will be faithful to help us. We, too, will find everything we need to accomplish the task. Whether it's physical materials such as lumber and nails or simply the courage to pursue our goals, it will surely be supplied. Think about the projects in your own life. Some may have stalled out. Take them out, dust them off, and begin again...let's go people...we've got boats to build!

"I'm gonna build me a boat with these two hands,
It'll be a fair curve from a noble plan---
Let the chips fall, where they will...
I've got boats to build!" (Jimmy Buffett)