Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7 God Promises a Son to Abraham & Sarah
Waiting is hard. Ask just about any child, and they will tell you the wait for Christmas morning to see what's under the tree is killing them. When we grow up, we look forward to seeing the reaction on their faces as they open presents. For the most part, though, adults aren't much better at waiting, are we?
When we're older, the stakes are higher, and the mental toll becomes extreme. Waiting for the mortgage to be paid off. Waiting to see what the insurance company is going to cover us or not. Waiting for a diagnosis. It's a paradox, we wait impatiently yet dread finding out for sure. You begin to think you shouldn't pursue a dream. You wonder if it is too late for you. When you believe God has forgotten about you, remember the story of Maxcy Filer.
Maxcy had a dream and a passion of becoming an attorney and helping the little guy obtain justice. Maxcy took the bar and failed. A lot. He eventually passed - you'll have to listen to hear the whole story. When asked, he said he couldn't give up, he believed this was God's plan for him. He also believed God never gave up on him, so how could Maxcy?
It is hard to imagine waiting and working so hard for twenty-five years to reach a goal.
Advent is all about this type of waiting. Abraham waited for God's promise of a son to come true. The children of Israel waited for the promised Messiah. We wait for Christ's return. Much of the life of a Christian is one of waiting, remaining faithful, and looking forward in hope for that which is yet to come.
But we all know that waiting in daily life can be discouraging. It may even lead us to despair at times. We begin to have doubts like Sarah.