I can remember when my husband and I were dating and the time I really struggled with our future. You know how relationships usually hit the hard spot after 3 months or so? Yeah. Well, we hit the ground running with difficulty. I can remember one evening praying in my dorm room, asking the Lord if this was really the right thing because it didn’t feel right in that moment. Before we go any further, let’s go back in time a few months to a time when Michael and I were in the “talking” stage. We were at a prayer service together and at one of the prayer stations, the Lord spoke to my heart that Michael was my husband. I mean. That’s cool. Yet, when difficultly came right when we officially became a couple I began to really question if this was the right thing even though I knew what the Lord had spoken. Difficulty has a way of doing that, doesn’t it?
Difficulty doesn’t mean we aren’t in the will of God. Sometimes pursuing God’s purpose for our lives will look much messier than we expected. Let’s just say, it’s going to take work, patience, and a big ole’ helping of perseverance (and hopefully cake). I didn’t expect that. But boy, am I thankful I stuck things out because my husband is one of God’s greatest gifts to me—hands down.
I felt a lot like Abraham (who was called Abram before God changed his name). Remember Abraham? God had given him a promise that he would become “a great nation” and in order to do that Abraham would need to have a son (Genesis 12:2). It took 25 years for God to fulfill this promise, much longer than Abraham expected. Abraham was 75 years old when God gave him the promise so he probably expected the promise to come pretty quickly. Yet, it didn’t. Abraham would instead have to walk in faith, believing God in long, hard, obedience. Don’t forget though, Abraham tried to bring about this promise through a different way and it didn’t’ work. I am definitely guilty of this. I’m used to making my life work, always thinking about what I can do to make something happen. Yet, sometimes God calls us to a place where it does not matter how hard we work, we simply have to wait—just like Abraham.
Abraham’s son came, just as God said it would. Beloved of God, I don’t know what the Lord has spoken over you, but He is faithful—no matter how long or hard things are. Remember, giving up is easy and tempting, but pressing on takes courage. I’ve got some things I’m still waiting for in hope, I know you do too. Take courage in the faithfulness of our God—who does not fail, lie, or miss the last second shot.
“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)
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