A daily devotional for your time alone with God. In an increasingly dark world, more than ever, we need to look beyond what we can see, past our present circumstances. In order to see the light and experience life as our Heavenly Father intended, I...
During the winter, I often stare at the dormant, thorny rose bushes in my garden. There is nothing about their appearance that makes me believe that they are ever going to produce beautiful roses. In fact right now with many more wintry weeks ahead, it looks completely impossible that such barren branches will ever spring to life! However, when I read about roses, I find that I just need to be patient and wait a bit longer and I will indeed see those long awaited fragrant blooms!
Have you ever found yourself in a situation that just seemed completely impossible? Perhaps you had asked God for something but then, despite having read reassuring verses about God's faithfulness and power, you could not possibly see how anything would change in your situation! This was where Sarah was, even after God's recent visit with her husband:
"The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread." Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. Then one of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."" Genesis 18:1-15 NIV
God knows how we are feeling and everything that is going on in our minds at any given time. On His visit to Abraham and Sarah, we see that He already knew that Sarah would have difficulty believing that her body, which would have already gone through menopause, could possibly produce a child. God came to make it clear to her just as he had to Abraham —indeed she would have a child and very soon!
Sometimes we just need to hear the Lord's promises over and over as we read His Word, before it really sinks in. Sarah's response to this unbelievable news is probably exactly how I would react, she laughed to herself as perhaps it would have been impolite to laugh out loud. What she didn't realise, was that the Lord knew her inner thoughts and reactions!
Notice that God responds to Abraham concerning Sarah's doubts and laughter, perhaps because he was the head of the household and he also needed to be aware and encourage Sarah in her faith. They would need to start doing what they had done for years as they tried to conceive but now they both had been given the word that this time, it would be successful! Poor Sarah must have found it very strange that the visitor knew what she was thinking and in fear she denies the fact that she had laughed. I love how God has the last word, certainly giving her something to think about!
The breakthrough that this couple had been waiting for, for most of their lives, was finally coming but now that they were so close, there was the temptation to doubt God. Are you currently waiting for a breakthrough in some area of Your life? Keep believing! "...I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 NIV
Remember God's words, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?'
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You know everything that is going on in my life, every thought I have and every word before I say it:
"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." Psalm 139:2-4 NIV
This is something I do not need to be afraid of but I do need to be aware. Thank You that You desire such intimacy with me and show Your love so clearly. Thank You that You respond to even the deepest longings and cries of my heart that have not even been formed into prayers! You are amazing and You always have my best interests at heart. Thank You for Your Word that reminds me over and over again of all of Your promises, declaring that:
""Everything is possible for one who believes."" Mark 9:23 NIV
Thank You for making it so clear to us throughout Your Word that we just need to believe and nothing will be impossible for us!
"He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."" Matthew 17:20 NIV
Please help me today as I continue in faith, taking You at Your Word even when I can't see.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
With great thankfulness, In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see." Psalms 36:9 NLT
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