Jul 23
Today’s Truth
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 NIV).
Friend to Friend
As a child, my parents took me to church every time the doors were open. I heard thousands of sermons in my 
childhood and every sermon held at least one illustration. I certainly don’t remember all of them, but there is one that stuck. One Sunday morning, the pastor explained that when we’re driving a car in the dark, we can’t see all the way to our destination. But we get in the car and trust that the car lights will remain on. As we drive, little by little, the roads are illuminated.
No one ever stomps their foot and says, “Well, I’m just not going to go anywhere tonight because my car’s lights aren’t shining all the way to where I need to go.” How ridiculous, right? No, we get in the car and trust that the lights will reveal the path as we move in the right direction.
Sometimes life turns out the lights and we feel like we’re left standing in the dark. Maybe you find yourself living in a dark moment right now and you have no idea what the future holds. Heartache, diagnosis, or loss has landed in your home or heart and suddenly, you don’t know where you’re going. You’re not alone! Today’s key verse, Genesis 15:6, is an affirmative, beautiful description of Abraham’s faith: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 NIV). However, moments before this verse, Abraham flat-out told God, “I know You are Who You say You are, but I can’t see how Your promises are going to come true.”
You see, Abraham had been promised by God that he would have a son. And yet, here he was, “as good as dead” (Romans 4:19), and still, no son. Not only did Abraham grapple with the lack of provision, but he also struggled to see a glimmer of hope that God would provide what He had promised. He looked at the path ahead and started drumming up his own plan B. “If the car lights won’t shine all the way to where I can see, well, then I’ll just decide to stay right here.”
But in God’s graciousness, He revealed to Abraham a part of His plan. He told Abraham to look up at the sky and count the stars, and then added, “You’ll have as many children as stars in the sky, Abraham.”
Abraham had a choice in that moment of God speaking to him. He could have chosen to continue looking down. He could have chosen to look up and be completely overwhelmed. Or he could have chosen to look up, yet not believe the promise of God. But he chose to take God at His Word.
On that dark, starry night, Abraham shifted his gaze to the awesome wonder of his gracious God and said, “God, I believe You. If You can speak to me so clearly, if You Who created the night sky and thousands of stars is promising to make a way when I can’t see it, then how could I not choose to trust You as the divine Creator who loves me and has a special plan for me?”
Abraham didn’t see a way that God could grant him what he promised: family and opportunity. Yet even as he questioned God with “how” and “where,” God revealed to Abraham that he was standing on the land that would be a part of fulfilling His promises.
Could it be that perhaps you are standing on the very ground that God plans to use to take you to the next destination He has for you? That maybe you are missing it because of dark circumstances and a glance up at the God who created the stars would be enough of a shift in perspective to reveal the next step He has for you?
May He open our eyes to the plan He has for us, even and especially in the dark.
Let’s Pray
Lord, I come to You, the One who placed the stars and multiplied them. I’m empty and needy and I don’t know what to do. It seems I’ve waited for an answer and yet there is none in sight. Open doors of opportunity and provide the wisdom and discernment I desperately need. When fear overwhelms me, let me hear Your voice speaking to my heart.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Which of Abraham’s steps of faith would you like to emulate today? Share it in the comments!
More from the Girlfriends
What desperate prayer do you find yourself whispering in the dark? If you enjoyed this devotion, you’ll love Rachel’s FREE Desperate for God Bible reading plan and Desperate for God: 31 Prayers of Men and Women in the Bible, a prayer journal, and a Bible reading plan.
© 2021 by Rachel Wojo. All rights reserved.
It amazes me, how God times these devotions for us. As I was opening this page, my heart cried out, “God, I can’t take anymore of this!” And then I read this devotion ~ Thank You for writing this. It has changed my course, lifted my head, and given me hope – which I desperately needed today 🙂 I have been waiting for children for so long, and I don’t see any encouragement in sight, not one tangible reason to hope…but God, only God… He is my hope!
Oh Carolyn! Yes, The Lord does this so miraculously. It can only be Him. God is our Hope! May you continue to see the way He is providing.
I would like to emulate Abraham’s level of faith. He connected what God has already done to what he believed that God would and could do for him.
Amen. Me too!
Thank you girlfriends!
I needed your help today!!
Donna
As I read this, the song “GOD will make a way” came to my mind, immediately. As I look back over my life, I am amazed at what GOD has done for me and my family. I even can remember how He sheltered me, even though I had not accepted Jesus as my Savior yet. He knew, He just waited.
I really think I’m going to enjoy this new GIG site, and emails.
I felt GOD telling me to honor my husband, who definitely dislikes FB and their principles, and closed my FB account. This has limited me from view Rachel’s FB page as well as a couple other Christian groups I was in.
Yesterday, as I was doing my Bible Challenge reading, I thought, “Oh, how I could read what others are saying. I miss reading what Rachel put out.” Today I get this. GOD saw ahead and made a way, He blessed my decision.
Thank You
This could not have arrived at a better time for me! Yesterday I started teaching at a new school and found myself in the a bathroom stall in the middle of the day crying, crying out to God that I wasn’t sure that this is for me anymore. When I pulled myself together enough to listen to Him, he said “Be still, this is not forever, trust my plan”. Later that day, I met another teacher who poured out her life struggles to me and the opportunity to pray with her came about, what a blessing! Like Abraham, I choose to believe that God has a purpose for me at this place!
As I am getting older God has opened a door for my son to ask me to come live with him. This was very unexpected but Gods plan. We will be purchasing a home with an in law apartment. Right now, I am so in Gods way. He has made it clear to me that He already has the house and now it is up to me to know this and wait on Him. I am also in the midst of getting ready to put my condo on the market and I know God has a buyer for it. Only God can open the doors that I need opened and since He owns everything, I will not get what I can imagine. God does not work that way. He only has the best for us and this house will be more than I can ever dream or imagine owning and everything will fall right in place. This message was on time for me. I will look up and know that God is in complete control and stand in complete awe of Him as God shows up and shows out. This is going to be good. Thank you Rachel for allowing God to use you. May many blessings come your way.
It seemed like you were only talking to me😊. The situation in the illustration is where I have been for years up to now. Your prayer exactly expresses what my heart holds right now, too. It truly is amazing how the Lord uses others to minister to us. Praise the Lord! Thank you for allowing God to use you for His glory and in strengthening us through your wonderful ministry. I surely have no idea what lies ahead and God had been silent all these years or could It be miss hearing His voice? Either way, like Abram, I choose to believe that He has my best interest in His hand, that He will lead me to my calling and purpose as all I fully desire is to live my life for Him till He calls me home.
I really hope you will read this. Thank you so much Rachel. To think that one day l was just feeling so depressed and l just decided to google some devotions and that’s when l came across your devotions and l ended up subscribing. I cannot express how grateful l am. You don’t know how much you have been keeping me going.l recently graduated and l feel stuck because l can’t get a job and it just seems like l have been trying everything and it’s not working.l really believe in praying and l have been doing it more than l have ever done and l still feel stuck. I really feel like I’m walking in a dark road.Been trying to discover my purpose and who l am and set to become. I’m just not getting there.One time l met some lady who told me that with the degree l studied l would never get a good job.Whenever l get your daily devotions in my Email it seems like you know what I’m going through that day. You are heaven sent. I just want to thank you for this message today it has given me so much hope and l will continue trusting God. I know l have a much bigger and mightier God. I believe my miracle is coming soon. No matter the circumstances l will succeed!!!
God sees you, Rujeko. He knows your heart and He will provide in His perfect timing. I know the wait seems so long and is so hard! But He loves you so much. Too much to leave you hanging. Thank you for your kind words to me! If He can use me, He can use anyone! 🙂 Many blessings to you.
Carolyn’s heart desire can be answered in God’s way and timing. The LIRS organization suggests helping care for immigrant children until more permanent homes can be established. You would serve in the role of a foster parent. Also, I am a new grandmother; my daughter delivered at age 47. She was on a prayer chain and had fertility assistance for one year. Keep the faith!
Rachel, I have been crying for our country. There, I said it. Those of us who are deeply troubled with all the myriad crises that are going on, and are aware past the highly manipulated mainstream news, are not supposed to say it. But I have to speak the truth. A commodity that is so rare, these days, with so many things being twisted and warped. I cried to God, the other day about the craziness, as I drove down the road knowing that Jesus was right there with me. And I heard a voice inside that said, “I hung on the cross for all of this.” – !! He was telling me that as bad as things look, He’s got this!! It is still difficult to let go and trust Him, but I do trust Him. He has done amazing things in my life, rescued me and 2 of my children from death, lifted us up out of dismal situations, really showed out in our lives!!! The good thing is to resist being distracted by evil and remain focused on just Him! He is for us and not against us. Thank you, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord! Especially for returning me to Your Peace that surpasses all understanding. The battle is Yours, Lord. Help me be a channel for Your Loving Will, as You see fit. More of You, less of me.
Thank you Rachel! Exactly what I needed to hear this morning. My 16 year old granddaughter Brooke is coming for a visit and I am asking for prayer that I may be able to share the greatness of God’s love with her so she can see His majesty and ever present love.
I am trying to have faith like Abraham but it is so hard. My son is struggling with depression. I am in continual prayer for him
I don’t know what to say or do. It is very difficult to live with someone suffering from depression. I have been waiting for healing from God. It has been 7 months now. Please keep us in your prayers.