Hold On To Your Faith
All the heroes of our faith, including Abraham, were human beings just like us. They experienced real thoughts, lusts, lies, doubts and fears, just like we do. But in the Bible, we read about Abraham and despite all of the feelings and thoughts he experienced, he still chose to believe in God, and His faith that God would fulfill His promises, which was counted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:20-22).
God told Abraham,
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3
Abraham came to realize that he couldn’t fulfill God’s promise in his own strength. Only God could fulfill His promises, and Abraham’s role was to trust and believe that if God said it, it would be so (Isaiah 14:27). Abraham stopped relying on his own abilities and chose to believe that God would fulfill His promises.
Sarah, in contrast, had doubts. She might have thought that the promise was only for Abraham and not for her. If Abraham was promised a son and an heir, what difference would it make if the child came from her or from someone else? But God promised that kings would come from Sarah (Genesis 16:16). Yet, it was difficult for her to believe, and she even laughed in her heart at this promise. I imagine she experienced frustration and great pain when she was unable to conceive for many years. Furthermore, she couldn’t comprehend why God, who could have acted when she was still fertile, would now make such a promise when she was far past child-bearing years.
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” 2 Corinthians 1:20
How many times have we heard promises from God directly or through others that were difficult for us to believe? It happens to everyone. But God’s promises are always true and reliable. Although it was difficult for Sarah to believe in the promise, we know that in the end, she also believed (Hebrews 11:11). Sometimes, we may feel that God is late or that He hasn’t kept His promises, but He is all-powerful! Nothing can hinder Him. At the same time, He invites us to be partners, to hope, and to trust that He is good and faithful to His promises (2 Peter 3:9). God knows the perfect timing for the fulfillment of His promises, and He works a genuine and profound process within us, just as He did in the hearts of Abraham and Sarah.
It is natural for us to experience doubts and uncertainties. We may question God’s timing, His methods, or even His goodness. But in those moments, we need to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness throughout history. We can look back at Abraham and Sarah and see how God fulfilled His promises to them, despite their doubts and struggles. Their stories serve as a reminder that God is always true to His word.
We can also take comfort in the fact that God understands our human weaknesses. He knows that we are prone to doubt, and yet He still extends His grace and invites us to trust Him. He doesn’t expect us to have unwavering faith all the time, but He desires for us to come to Him with our doubts and fears. He longs for us to lay our burdens at His feet and find rest in His promises.
In our journey of faith, there will be times when we feel impatient, when we wonder why God hasn’t acted yet or why His promises seem delayed. But we must remember that God’s timing is perfect. He sees the bigger picture, and He knows what is best for us. He is not bound by our limited understanding or our human timelines. Instead, He orchestrates events and circumstances in our lives to mold us, shape us, and prepare us for the fulfillment of His promises.
Therefore, let us stand firm in our faith, even when doubts arise.
Let us fix our gaze on God, knowing that He is good and faithful. Let us trust that He will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing. And as we wait, let us allow Him to work in us, refining our character, strengthening our trust, and deepening our relationship with Him.
I pray that each of us will be strengthened from within and filled with courage, for there is a great reward for our faith. May we hold onto our faith, knowing that God is always with us, guiding us, and fulfilling His promises in ways beyond our imagination.
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