Being Sure When You Are Unsure

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.  And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. Romans 4:18-22

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping. I ask God sometimes to remind me why I am doing what I am doing that seems totally contrary to logic. Sometimes, the path God has put me on doesn't seem to make sense. And I wonder if God is in it. To be honest, this happens more than I would like it to. But I am learning. When it does, I go to God and ask to hear from him.

On one such occasion God gave me Romans 4:18-22. I started thinking about it. I struggle because God said "Walk this path and wait." So, I am walking the path I was given. Each day, one foot in front of the other; waiting. And when many days go by with no change, I become restless with the waiting part. I don't know exactly what I am waiting for. But Abraham knew. He knew God promised him a son. At age 100 the Bible tells us he thought his body was as dead as Sarah's womb. Made me think that maybe it would be harder to believe in something you knew to be scientifically impossible. But the Bible says Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise and He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

I had to ask myself, am I fully convinced that God is able and will do whatever he promises? What am I using as a benchmark to question him? For Abraham, he would have used his age and the fact that his wife was barren. Am I using what I see with my eyes only? Am I holding up my own yard stick of measurements and saying "God, you must not be working because it doesn't look like this."

I've always said we can't put God in a box. We can't put him in a box that looks logically correct because the Bible says that our wisdom is God's foolishness. We can't put him in the scientifically correct box because over and over again he defies science (like making a 90 year old barren woman pregnant or by controlling the wind and the waves). We can't expect what we see with our eyes to be a gauge of what God is doing. God is God and he will do what he wants, how he wants, and most importantly when he wants.

So what can we do? Believe in what we know about him. Believe that he is able to do what he says he is going to do even if it doesn't make any sense at all. And then, wait.

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (GNT)