Trusting the Lord When You Can’t See Where You’re Going

In Genesis 18:10, God came to Abraham for the last time to announce to him that He was going to give him a child through Sarah. At this point, Abraham and Sarah had been waiting 24 years for this promise to be fulfilled and had completely given up. They were both old. She was barren, and she had been so her whole life. Now God came and actually announced the timing. Before, He had just frustrated them, because He said He was going to do it and they expected it soon. Nothing happened. At this particular visitation, the Lord said, “At this time next year, Sarah will have a son.” 

In Genesis 20, something bad happens. It is one of the low points in Abraham’s life. He and Sarah with all their earthly goods travel through Abimelek’s territory and he becomes afraid. Abraham gave Sarah to Abimelek to save himself and his property. God came to Abimelek in a dream and said, “You’re a dead man, because she is a married woman.” Abimelek feared the Lord and asked Him to please save his nation, because he did so innocently. He had also not yet had a physical relationship with her. Abraham had become afraid and lied to him. God acknowledged that what Abimelek was saying was true and that He was going to keep him from sinning against Him. So, God told him to restore her to Abraham and he would live. 

Then, Abimelek asked Abraham why he would do such a thing. In verse 11, Abraham said, “Surely there is no fear of God in this place and I thought you would kill me because of my wife.” All your life you have heard sermons on Abraham leaving all that he knew and going to a place he had never been, just trusting in the Lord. Even though he had enough faith to do this, there was a piece in his heart that was really struggling. He was afraid, and he had asked Sarah to always say she was his sister wherever they would go. Going into unfamiliar places and circumstances was causing fear to manifest. This was a turning point moment for Abraham. But, God set things up to deal with the fear, then He intervened.

“Abraham replied, ‘I said to myself, “There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.” Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, “This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, ‘He is my brother.’”’ Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, ‘My land is before you; live wherever you like.’” (Genesis 20:11-15; NIV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Has the Lord ever asked you to do something that was out of your comfort zone? Maybe He has asked you to go to a strange city or start something new. Think about how you felt. Did you happily go or did you need to wrestle a little with fear?
• If you know you tried to work things out for your life on your own and it made a mess, just repent.
• Has the Lord given you a promise that is not yet fulfilled? Could there be any fear holding back the fulfillment?
• Think about a fear you struggle with now. Could it be holding back your destiny?
• Ask the Lord to turn your fear into a blessing, like He did for Abraham through Abimelek.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, I’m so glad You put this story of Abraham’s humanity in the Bible. It exposed his sin, but we can see how You moved to correct his iniquitous heart. You even blessed him! Go deeper into my heart today, Lord. Show me what You need me to see. When have I resisted You because I was afraid? When have I refused to go where You told me to go, because I couldn’t see past the fear? You can deliver me from all my fears and get me on Your track for my life. You are the One I love. You even heal my heart, so I can love You more and receive Your love more. Forgive me when I have given into fear and made a mess. Keep me on Your perfect path. Fulfill Your promises to me. Don’t let anything stand in the way! Redeem the time and the circumstances I am in as a result of giving into my fear. Turn things so far around that I am even blessed by them in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s decree:

God wants His people to fulfill their destinies. Be not afraid!