NOVEMBER 25, 2014
Resting
In God
Read: Romans
4:16-22
He did not waver . . . through unbelief . . . being fully convinced
that what [God] had promised He was also able to perform. —Romans 4:20-21
It was our last
holiday together as a family before our eldest son went off to college. As we
filled the back pew in the little seaside church, my heart filled with love as
I glanced along the row of my five reasonably tidy children. “Please protect
them spiritually and keep them close to You, Lord.” I prayed silently, thinking
of the pressures and challenges each of them faced.
The final hymn had a
rousing chorus based on the words of 2 Timothy 1:12. “I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to
Him.” It brought a sense of peace as I was assured that God would keep their
souls.
Years have passed
since then. There have been times of wandering for some of my children, and
outright rebellion for others. Sometimes I’ve wondered about God’s
faithfulness. Then I remember Abraham. He stumbled but never failed in his
trust in the promise he’d received (Gen. 15:5-6; Rom. 4:20-21). Through years
of waiting and mistaken attempts to help things along, Abraham hung on to God’s
promise until Isaac was born.
I find this reminder
to trust encouraging. We tell God our request. We remember that He cares. We
know He is powerful. We thank Him for His faithfulness.
Lord, my patience is
often lacking and my timetable
often does not match
Yours. Forgive me for my times
of doubt, and help me
to trust You more.
Thank You for Your
faithfulness.
Some lessons of patience take a long time to
learn.
Insight
Abraham was 75 when
God first told him that he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 12:4). But
when Abraham noted that both he and Sarah were childless (15:2), God promised
that he would have “a son who is your own flesh and blood” (v.4 niv). This promise
was 25 years in its making. For Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah
90 (17:17), when their bodies were “already dead” reproductively (Rom. 4:19).
Abraham believed in the Lord (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:17), “fully convinced that what
He had promised He was also able to perform” (Rom. 4:21).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
