Believing God's Promises

"By faith Abraham, even though he was past age — and Sarah herself was barren — was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."  Hebrews 11:10-11

I honestly had to think about this one over several days and pray about what God wanted spoken through these verses.  I know that it was not a coincidence that I heard a sermon about sowing into the lives of others and then it all started to fall together in my mind, via the Holy Spirit.

Do you ever think about the fact that when God made a covenant with Abraham and promised him numerous descendants (countless!), that God was not just talking about physical/biological descendants, but also spiritual ones?   What an awesome promise God gave to Abraham.  He would be the father of nations, and those of us who believe in Christ are a part of that family.  (See Romans 4)
Therefore, through FAITH, Abraham had spiritual descendants.  Rom. 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring — not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Okay, I hope I'm not stretching things, but this verse and this promise brought to my mind a very important and life changing lesson that God taught me a few years ago.  When Allen and I married back in December of 1996, we had no doubts that we wanted to be parents.  We knew that after we finished our grad work and started our first jobs we wanted to have children.  I am one of those women who always wanted to be a mother.  It was definitely on my "to do" list!   We had our plans all set.  I would teach a year, get pregnant, and then stay home with the kids until they were in school.  According to our timetable, this was to begin in the Fall of 2001.

If you've been reading this blog, then you know that our plans did not transpire in the time table we wanted.  It was about 5 years later, in fact, that our dream of having children was finally realized.  And, unlike Abraham, God didn't appear to me and say, "You will have descendants!"  I didn't have the promise of children, yet I longed for them.  Abraham and Sarah waited MANY more years before Isaac was born.  And, as many of you know, they made some bad choices in the meantime.  But, when God first made the promise to Abraham,  Abraham believed God "and it was credited to him as righteousness."

God didn't promise me children, but what DID he promise me?  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  When I first miscarried, I have to say I wasn't clinging to that promise.  Instead, I was mad at God for not allowing us to have children.  But, you know what, He never promised me I'd have biological children.  Yet, I treated Him as though He had.  Instead of clinging to the promises clearly written in His word, I held on tight to my own plans and ideals.  (How about you?  Can you relate?)  There is no doubt that even though I had no trouble conceiving children, I felt barren.

Over the following two years, God taught me something amazing---and it relates to Abraham's story.  God showed me that I could have "spiritual" children.   Now, I know that is a bizarre phrase, but hang with me.  As I was going through Beth Moore's study, "Breaking Free" back in 2003, God showed me Isaiah 54.  I've actually quoted some verses from this in some of my blogs, because it has stuck with me so profoundly.

“Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.  For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth."

I remember the first time I read these verses I just started bawling.  Only recently, God had opened the doors for me to teach a women's Sunday School class at University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville.  Even though I was a mess, God was speaking to me and His Spirit was strong in me and he began to draw a lot of college women into that class.  At the same time, by God's leadership, I started a weekly Bible study in my house for the women music majors who wanted to come.  He blessed that time as well and used me as His tool to speak to those young women.  I was just beginning to see the fruits of this when I read Isaiah 54. 

It was like God was telling me, "Kristin, you need to enlarge the place of your tent, because I have something amazing to show you!   I want you to be a spiritual mother to these college women."  All of a sudden, I knew my calling, passion, and purpose---to mentor and teach college women.  The joy that followed this revelation cannot be expressed.  God had brought me to a place where I was completely satisfied in Him and the work He was giving me to do.  If I never bore a child of my own, it was okay.
Then, 2 1/2 years later, we had Caroline.

All this to say, that like Abraham, God does promise us spiritual blessings, but many times we are too concerned about our own idea of what will make us happy and fulfilled.  So, God gently shows us the difference between His plans and our plans!  Abraham and Sarah tried some of their own plans--and it didn't turn out so good!  But, when they chose to believe God, amazing things happened.

Here are some strong reminders about God's promises:

Josh. 21:45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

1Kings 8:56 ¶ “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

Psa. 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

2Cor. 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.


And what is our response....
Psa. 106:12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.

Think about the different promises of God in the Bible.  Do you believe them?  If so, then sing His praise!