Promise Made, Promise Kept
Genesis 21:1-2
The LORD came to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him.
God gave the promise, and God fulfilled the promise. He did the work in His appointed time. Abraham and Sarah were merely tools He used to accomplish His purpose. God brought life from something as good as dead so He might be glorified and recognized among the people.
Satan has a way of trying to make us think we have to accomplish God’s promises for ourselves. We aren’t trying hard enough, or we’ve blown it too many times and are now disqualified. He tries to convince us there is something inherently wrong with us that prevents God from blessing us. If we believe His lie, we will try to manufacture the blessing ourselves and produce a counterfeit that will never carry God’s favor or promise. God will fulfill what He has promised in His timing so that everyone around us will know He is at work in us.
Many times in my own life, God has fulfilled His promise to me after I had given up. Ceasing my own efforts gave Him a chance to work. While I kept trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, He moved me to a new place where my square peg fit perfectly. Gaining His promises really is about dying to ourselves, ceasing our own efforts, and just allowing God to be God in our lives. Sarah’s barrenness served a purpose, just as her son would serve a greater purpose than she could imagine.
In whatever season of life you find yourself right now, you can glean from Sarah’s example. You cannot force God’s promises to come to pass, and you are not disqualified if God has promised you something. Trying to manufacture His promise from your own self efforts will produce a counterfeit that God will not bless with His best. Finally, God can give you joy and delight in your old age. You are never too old to receive God’s blessing and favor or to be productive for Him. Barrenness serves a purpose to produce greater fruit.
Have a blessed day!