Finding Your Yes by Christine E. Wagoner

Author:Christine E. Wagoner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Discipleship;spiritual formation;spiritual growth;spiritual practices;disciplines;Bible;Christian faith;spiritual journey;prayer;vocation;yes moments;Christian living
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2021-03-29T08:57:06+00:00

What are the obstacles you experience in trusting God with an invitation to yes?

We get impatient in our waiting for God and take matters into our own hands, which doesn’t usually end well. Thankfully, God has abundant grace for us. It doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for our actions. It does mean that he can redeem anything, and he will continue to give us opportunities to trust him, again and again.

God extended this grace to Abram and Sarai. He sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because he’d married Sarai, and she was Abram’s wife. Pharaoh figured this out and was irate. He couldn’t understand why Abram lied about this and brought mayhem into his land. He demanded they both exit Egypt immediately and even sent some of his men to escort them out.

I find it interesting that Pharaoh acknowledged God’s power with the plagues and understood there would be consequences for taking Sarai as his wife. It does make me wonder if Abram had trusted God for the impossible, would Pharaoh have been respectful of Sarai and Abram’s marriage? But God was gracious to Abram, even in the midst of his poor decision in Egypt.

Another invitation to trust. The Lord then led the pair back to Canaan, and God said to Abram: “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!” (Genesis 13:14-16).

Abram worshiped God and trusted him for this promise. Again. Even though it looked impossible as there were no children in sight. God did bless them with wealth and land at this point. He had taken care of them in Egypt. Perhaps this promise would still come true.

We read in Genesis 15:1-2, “Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.’ But Abram replied, ‘O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?’”

Another obstacle to trust. Abram continues to wait on this promise from God that doesn’t seem to be happening, and he’s getting antsy. He goes on to explain to God that since a son seems to be the missing piece in this promise, one of his servants’ children will have to be the heir to his wealth. Abram tells God that’s the only outcome possible at this point.

Waiting on God brings out the control freak in the best of us. Abram tries desperately to control the situation by giving God his game plan. I can’t count the number of blueprints I’ve submitted to God—and the number of plans I simply drew up myself and executed on my own. It’s easy to forget that God knows: He knows our realities. He knows what we need.

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