I often wonder how Noah felt at different points in his life while building the ark, and in the days which followed. We would like to believe that everything came easy for him. After all, God said build an ark, so God must have also delivered all the materials cut to order… right? Well, we really don’t know, but I’m guessing there was an substantial amount of faith required on Noah’s part. From my own experience, I’m guessing, a whole lot of time was spent questioning God as well.

At some point in each believers faith walk, a challenge much bigger then a persons ability to overcome on their own, just pops up. Our choice of how we handle that situation often determines our success or failure. For some, this may be a test in the area of their own health, or that of their child. For others, it may be in the area of finances, or having a roof over their head. Often these situations are either going to overcome us, unless we learn to walk by faith, no matter what the circumstances. This is really just everyday Christianity. But, what I want to talk about today goes beyond everyday Christianity. Because, for those of us who do learn to overcome the little waves… the small storms, trusting in God… greater and greater times of testing are surely in store.

Many times, after a great victory of faith has been won, God will present a new challenge. Unlike the first wilderness trial, God will usually give us a choice. We’ll find ourselves at a fork in the road. Both options may seem like God is in them, and they may both lead to blessing. The fact of the matter is God is giving us a choice. Take the easier road… God will bless. Take the harder road… God will bless more. There is no bad or wrong choice here. Only that mountain moving faith is never learned on the easier road. Choosing to take the more difficult path, will always lead to more trials of faith, but the rewards will always outweigh the risks in the end.

When I began writing this blog, I was not at the finish line of a great victory of faith. While I’ve seen many of those in my race, the Lord made it clear that He wanted people to see what it looks like to walk through a wilderness period from start to finish. Both the highs and lows, the mountain tops and the valleys. Noah was given a choice. Build or don’t build. Just like Noah, the Lord gave me a choice in this current “God adventure” as I like to call it. He didn’t force my hand. Instead He told me all the details of what was required, and just how difficult the path would be. Then He left the choice up to me.

Our wilderness adventures always begin with a choice. To listen and obey the still small voice of the Lord, or take the easy way out. The more times we choose the easy road, the more distant the voice becomes, until we come to the place where we find it difficult to hear Him at all. Then, He must send a big wave crashing over the bow of our ship, to get our attention, with the hope of steering us back on track.

So here is where I am at right now…

• Our farm business is prospering, so much so that we need more space in a big way. Yet we are struggling to find a solution without turning to debt, which The lord warned us to stay away from.
• My wife has just made the decision to leave her part time job of 20+ years to work full time on the farm. A huge step of faith, and the loss of an proven income stream.
• We’re struggling to find the quality help we need because there are few people that really want to work, and even fewer that want to work on a farm.
• The economic outlook appears dreadful.
• The political outlook appears dim at best.
• Another great war is looming on the horizon, and most people are unaware of just how close we are.

All this makes we want to put my full attention into our farm business. It seems like the logical choice to work harder at the things which are already working. Also to prepare for the hard times which I know are coming. But… The still small voice is telling me something different!

The wee small voice is telling me “Stop, slow down, trust in Me… wait on Me!” It is telling me, “Take the other road!” Take the road which requires more faith… the one that looks less familiar, and much more uncertain. Take the road which places you on a path where your only choice is to trust in God.

That’s the choice… try and live out the coming metaphorical floods and famines in my own strength. Or trust in God to bless us in them. Now that choice seems easy right? Just trust in God! Except that’s the Christianity 101 answer, and we’re not in that class any longer. While that answer still applies as truth, the reality is the picture of what that entails for me and my family, is much bigger than it was back in the beginning.

So what does this “take the harder road” choice really look like? Well at this particular moment, it means taking my eyes off the obvious… Placing my cares of our finances, farm, protection, well being and even the health of my animals at Jesus’s feet, and taking time out of my frantic day to write this post to you. Why? Because the still small voice says, “Build a boat son.” “Build many arks for my people and help them build their own.” “Be the lighthouse which leads them to safe harbors!”

Choosing the right path is never as simple as it sounds. This is not a choice of good and bad, right or wrong. Its the choice of resting or not resting. Follow or not follow. The choice is usually veiled in a thick fog of complications. Like at this very moment… I have an elderly goat named Grace, who has been a gift from the Lord, and a dear blessing to my heart all her life. She has just had her last kid and is really struggling after the birth. We would like to milk her for one last season, but she’s tired and it’s probably her time. It is breaking my heart to lose her. I could go and do everything in my power to maybe prolong her life… But, God says rest, trust Me. Will He save her life? My guess is probably not… it’s just her time. Which is actually an answer to prayer, that I may not have to put her down, or watch her pass. So I have cast the care on Him, and I am following the path He is leading despite the difficulty.

Yet, all that is simply the fog clouding the choice. God desires that I turn and follow Him down a path that few others have traveled, and many more think is absolutely crazy. In fact I wonder often that I might be completely crazy… But, God said… Build a farm and community center in Jamaica… and in Maine, and around the world.

Don’t worry that what you see is crumbling around you… I will bless you in the earthquake!

Don’t worry when famine comes and the money fails… I will make you a blessing to nations!

Build places where My kingdom may flourish in the earth, and My people will be blessed. Teach them how to live together in community, as My Body. Teach them how to rest… to sleep in the boat!

So that is where I am, asleep in the boat at the feet of Jesus, while the world is perishing around me. This is what He wants you to see through me. He wants a people that can rest in the boat no matter what is happening outside. No matter how uncertain the course, no matter how high the waves!