“And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”” (Genesis 15:7–8, ESV)
“O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it.”Uncertainty is based on doubt. We cannot see what God is promising us. And why can’t we see? Our vision is impaired because we are walking in the flesh, in the natural, in the daily routines of humanity.
Even while Abraham was alone with God, being shown the enormity of God’s plan and power, he still doubted. It seems like, when we have a doubting idea lodged in our minds, even God struggles to remove it from our thinking.
If we pay attention to the context of the words written above, we hear, “And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:3–6, ESV)
Despite Abraham’s growing faith, his ability to completely see the vision God was sharing with him was limited. As is ours. You are growing. God is using you. He is planting a new heart in that soul of yours, one that believes and chooses to please Him.
However, there are times when we are not yet what we will be. And in those moments, we must admit we fail, we struggle, and we simply don’t s-t-r-e-t-c-h far enough to grasp the outrageous plan God has for our lives and our progeny.
Don’t feel bad. If Abraham couldn’t make the stretch all the time, we won’t either. Remember this truth: “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11, ESV)
Be encouraged that you are stretching to grasp God’s will for your life. Don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t complete yet. Take a moment and breathe in the wind of the Spirit. You’re getting there!
Turn-Around Tuesdays are designed to bring hope and help, insight and encouragement to those of us who are simply overwhelmed by the flood of problems life throws at us. No one is immune to trials and troubles, but God has a way of lifting us from life’s torrents. Each short thought is written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and comes from his life-journey with the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. He welcomes your comments below.
