The “Impossible!”

Just 60 days ago, I wondered if the dismal economy and changing ideals about Christian education was going to force a change in our school, Good Shepherd Christian Academy. Re-enrollment was slow and it did not appear that new students were coming our way. I asked the Lord to make His will plain. “Give me faith and courage to wait to see how You will provide. If You have plans for a new season of new ministry, then show me plainly, Lord!” At first, it seemed Heaven was silent. I have always believed in the absence of clear divine guidance, it is best to maintain course, so that’s what we did! Opening day for GSCA is next Tuesday. It will be the best opening day we have seen in several years in terms of total numbers of students. This is a credit to the Lord’s goodness and to many faithful people who believed, trusted, waited, prayed, and perspired in preparation!

Abraham was told by God that he would be fathers of nations, whose descendants would be innumerable. Then, nothing happened for years! At age 84 he had no son with his primary wife, Sarah, who was also well past child-bearing years. It comforts me to know that his faith wavered. He chose, with Sarah’s agreement, to take a surrogate wife, Hagar, in an attempt to help the LORD keep His promise. The son born to that union was Ishmael, who caused no small trouble for Abraham in years to come. In one of the Bible’s great faith stories, we learn that Abe and Sally had a son when they were old enough to be in an extended care facility! "It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them." (Hebrews 11:11-12, NLT)

Eugene Petersen diagnoses spiritual disease that causes us to try to help God to keep His word: “irreligiosa sollicitudo pro Deo; a blasphemous anxiety to do God’s work for Him.” (The Gift, Zondervan) We need to take note of an important sub-text in Abraham’s story that instructs us well in our own walk of faith!

Abe didn’t try to ‘make God give him a son!’ He heard a promise that God made and then waited in expectant faith. His faith was not in himself or his own dreams. It was fixed on the word of Yahweh, the Lord. The key to great faith is not screaming at God in the moment of desperation, but in listening to God. When the unexplainable, the unfathomable, the unexpected comes our way, the best first response is attentive silence. When he was puzzled by the circumstances around him, young Samuel was coached by the old prophet to open his ears with this simple prayer: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10, NLT) When we hear God’s word of promise, sweet peace results even in the middle of the storm. He doesn’t always say what we want to hear. His will is always best.

If you’re up against a wall, try fasting; and I’m not talking food. Try fasting words, complaint, even demands. Quiet your heart, take authority over your emotions, and wait! Meditate on the Word, especially Psalms of promise and hope like the 37th and the 40th. Go contemplate the works of God. Meditate on the Cross.

Stressed out today? Here’s a word from the Word for your meditations.
"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength." (Isaiah 30:15, NIV)
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Someone said that in each life
Some rain is bound to fall.
Each one sheds his share of tears
And trouble troubles us all;
But the hurt can’t hurt forever,
And the tears will surely dry!

And it won’t rain always,
The clouds will soon be gone.
The sun that they’ve been hiding
Has been there along.
And it won’t rain always,
God’s promises are true.
The sun’s gonna shine, in God’s own good time
And He will see you through;
The sun’s gonna shine in God’s own good time
And He will see you through!

It Won’t Rain Always
Copyright Allison Durham Speer