Believe God in a hard place? Abraham found himself there. Could he trust the Lord when human reasoning said it was futile?

The Lord had sent Abram on a journey and made large promises. Directing his gaze to the stars of the heavens and the sands of the sea, the Lord said, “I will make of thee a great nation.”

But Abraham was childless.

Could Abraham really believe God?

Genesis 15:6 (NIV) says he “believed the Lord, and  he credited it to him as righteousness.”

The Amplified Bible says, “And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).” Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6 repeat the statement.

Listen to James 2:23 in The Amplified Bible. “…Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.”

I love the way Paul described Abraham. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.’ The words ‘it was credited to him as righteousness’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:18-24 NIV).

Fully persuaded. Absolutely certain. Not wavering between faith and doubt. God would do what he said.

Abraham followed and trusted.

And he grew old waiting for the child of promise.

In his own time, God fulfilled the promise, sending the beloved son Isaac and descendants as numerous as the stars of the heavens and sands of the sea.

I know a lot about faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Knowing about faith is one thing; practicing faith is another.

Knowing about faith is one thing; practicing faith is another. Click To Tweet

Considering these faith facts, I noticed the Enemy had staked little “impossible” signs around my life. I tripped over one every time I got self pumped up to believe God. I talked this over with self.

Where does faith come from? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

Why does the Word of God generate faith? It’s what God said.

Why should I believe it? Because he is God!

I’d looked to biblical history for assurance God would meet my needs. If he did it for faith giants—and those of lesser faith—surely he’d do the same for me.

Nothing is written about Abraham’s being fully persuaded because God had an outstanding record in history. He was fully persuaded that what God had promised him, he was able to perform.

His record certainly encourages my faith, but God isn’t obligated to work in my life on the basis of what he did for Abraham or anybody else. He’s obligated only by his promises. I see the flaw in my faith. His record is impressive, but his Word to me fully persuades me that what he has promised, he is able to perform.

Human reason for hope being gone, Abraham chose to believe, to hope in faith. Click To Tweet

Human reason for hope being gone, Abraham chose to believe, to hope in faith.

That’s how Romans 4:18 reads in The Amplified Bible.

When circumstances give no reason to hope, when I consider running up the white flag of surrender, when human reasoning says this path makes no sense—I choose to believe God! He’s known for crediting faith as righteousness. And perhaps he will consider me his friend.

Have you ever been in a place where, human reason for hope being gone, you hoped in faith? Please leave a comment. And share with friends who need encouragement today.

(Adapted from Cabbages and Kings—Reflections on Living Abundantly in Christ)

©Dianne Barker 2018