In God We CAN Trust

January 29, 2015
Bible in a year: Genesis 16-19

Devotional passage: Genesis 18:14b
"Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" CEB

Today's verse is God's response to Sarah's laughter when she learns she is to conceive a child at the age of 90. Sarah'a mirth is not so much an indication of limited faith in God, but rather one of worldy realism in her expectations. She is at an age where most women would have great-great grandchildren let alone the child she has ached for throughout her life. Now she is being told by a messenger of the Lord that her deepest desire will be fulfilled...dare she hope?

As we go about our lives we often set dreams aside for reality. Choices and circumstances derail hopes of a simple life of perpetual health, financial comfort, or prosperous relationships. Instead we face illness or disability, unemployment or deflated investments, and divorce or discord with family. Wouldn't we react with disbelief if we were told out of the blue that there is a total cure, an unexpected windfall, or some previously unknown way to find loving bliss with another...especially if it our deepest desire? I expect Sarah's laughter might have been the slightly hysterical kind; not a response to a joke, but anxious and afraid to believe such good news. And the messenger merely questions Abraham, Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"

We must ask ourselves the same when our hope runs thin. In Matthew 19:26b Jesus said to his disciples, "But all things are possible for God.”

This does not mean that God will grant all of our wishes and desires, we know. But through prayer and a strong trust in the Lord we can know that our hopes and dreams are not futile. And through prayer God will respond not just to the hopes and dreams, but also to our pain and struggles with grace, mercy, and love.

Prayer: Merciful God, you know our deepest desires as well as our greatest struggles. Help us to turn to you often that we may trust in your generous provision for each of us to your glory so that we may see hope as your promise of salvation through your Son, Christ Jesus, amen.