WOW!
Fifth of seven in God’s Best devotion series
Genesis 21:1-3
“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.” Emphasis mine.
This God’s Best devotional series is designed to show you why the Middle East is a hotbed of conflict today. Arab nations surround one Jewish state, Israel (Canaan). God promised Abram in Genesis 12:7: “To your offspring I will give this land.” Where’s their peace? God’s best is only received when we wait on His timing.
How happy Sarah must have been—after waiting so many years—that God would bless her with a baby! She must have regretted not having Abraham’s first child, and all the conflict with Hagar! (See devotions I got it! and So Far, So Good?).
We certainly understand Sarah’s frustration. Waiting patiently for God’s best sometimes seems impossible. We learn as we grow. We also get to build faith on our journey, because Jesus is walking beside us.
Do you have any questions on this God’s Best devotional series? Sarah’s heartache didn’t sound like God’s best, did it? Believers aren’t promised a life of roses; we’re promised times of both joy and hardship (Psalm 4:7, James 1:2-8). Hardships test and teach God’s kids, purifying our faith (Job 23:10). If we never lack: needing, wanting, or suffering, we’d NEVER be tested. Why do some people fall apart when times get tough? How can others simply take hardship in stride (Psalm 16:8)?
Some people make life look easy—rolling with the flow however life tilts—whatever the storms. Sure they get disappointed when things go wrong. They could face difficulties on every side, but always end on their feet. They may not get what’s happening, but are never depressed. Despite getting punched out and bullied, they continue to bounce back—and are stronger for it (1Corinthians 4:12-13, 2Corinthians 4:8-9).
It certainly isn’t God’s will that we suffer, but it IS His will that we be transformed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29). Jesus showed us how to live courageously and sinlessly all the way to victory. He never short-circuited the Father’s will (like Sarah did in I Got It! devotion). Jesus refrained from using His divinity when times got tough, even willingly dying on the cross! Jesus shows us how to wait on the Father’s timing to get His best.
Take Home Nugget
While it took many years for Sarah to finally give birth to Isaac, she would be the first one to encourage us to hold firm to what God promises, and believe that it’ll happen. Sarah chose the hard road to receiving her promise. Won’t you think about Sarah the next time you’re tired of waiting for God’s best?
As a believer, trust that in all life’s setbacks, God’s plotting for your best.
J.D. Griffith
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment