“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all [Abraham’s] offspring…in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:16-22
“No distrust made him waver.” What remarkable faith. God promised Abraham that he would be “the father of many nations.” And in spite of details that could have made that promise appear ridiculous and impossible, Abraham believed the words God spoke.
He didn’t know how it would happen. He didn’t know when the promise would be fulfilled—a promise not only for a child, but for offspring that would be as countless as the stars. Abraham saw his age. He was well aware that his wife had been unable to have children. Yet these obstacles did not hinder his faith, because he was fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.
Oh that our faith would be this steadfast! That we would walk through our days, through pain and difficulty and obstacles, fully convinced that our God is able to do what He promised. No distrust making us waver concerning His promises. Growing strong in our faith as we give glory to God, even in the midst of what we don’t understand.
“But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:23-25). Our God has displayed His power in the resurrection of our Lord. He has worked His faithfulness in generations of His people, all those who came before us. Not once did His faithfulness waver. Not once did His promises go unfulfilled.
We can hold fast to the Word of our God because it will stand forever. His promises to heal our sin-sick soul and mend our broken heart. His promises to wash us white as snow and to present us before Himself blameless, a crown of beauty before our God. His promises to never leave us, never forsake us, to always be faithful and true. His promises to be a refuge, to be our hope, to be our life and the light in our darkness. This is our God, the One who will never fail us.
“God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
Numbers 23:19
“Even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.”
Isaiah 46:4
“and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ
when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
Ephesians 1:19-21
In Pleasant Places 