Sailing into God’s Plan

We don’t know her name, so let’s call her “Mrs. Noah.” She spent her days loving her husband, Noah, raising their three sons, and caring for their home. Daily life was simple, until the call came from the Lord, “I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” (Genesis 6:18).

Grieved over the wickedness of mankind, God decided to destroy humans, the animals of the fields, and the birds of the air. Because Noah trusted and walked with God, God chose to save him and his family and told him to make an ark.

As Noah moved forward in obedience, Mrs. Noah may have mused, ”What can I do? How can I help my husband fulfill God’s plan?”

• Pray. She could pray for mankind as God’s judgment loomed, for her husband as he served the Lord, and for her family to follow God.
• Encourage. Husbands thrive on their wives’ cheerful, hope-filled words of support. She could encourage Noah in his work.
• Believe. She may have wondered about the ark and the possibility of a flood, but she could choose to believe.
• Help. She could help with the animals and gather the food they would need for their mysterious voyage of faith.
• Follow. She could—by faith—follow her husband’s leading day by day (for 120 years, the 43,800 days it took to complete the ark!), right into the ark of salvation that transported her family into an unknown future.

How do you fare when it comes to following God’s plan for a wife? Are there any pitfalls in your mar­riage that may be directly attributed to neglecting to do things God’s way? Is there any tension caused by a failure to adhere to God’s recipe for a happy marriage, a recipe made up of prayer, encouragement, belief, and help?

Stop, pray, and revisit God’s blueprint. Refresh your commitment to actively follow His plan for your roles in your marriage. Your commitment to follow God’s plan for a wife makes a tremendous difference. How? It will make a difference in your communication as a couple, in your heart as love for your husband blossoms and abounds, and in the way you treat him with greater respect. It will also improve the climate of your marriage, paving the way for the two of you to dwell together in har­mony. When you and I are faithful to follow God’s plan for us, the possibilities are spectacular!

RESPOND:

Lord, thank you for the example of Noah’s wife. Help me to trust You and walk faithfully in my marriage. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In A Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices, Elizabeth George compiled guidelines for taking godly action, allowing women to make a true difference in managing their responsibilities. Learn more about this resource here. 

REFLECT:

How can I love and encourage my husband well today?

REMEMBER:

Your commitment to follow God’s plan for a wife makes a tremendous difference.