How long have you been stuck in your current chapter waiting for that fresh start, waiting for direction on what’s next, waiting for a prayer to be answered? A few days, a few weeks, even a few years? Does God’s “possible” sometimes feel out of reach and unobtainable?
I take such comfort and inspiration from the story of Abraham and Sarah and their journey to reaching God’s possible.
When you think you’re too old for change, for dreaming new dreams, or ever reaching the ones God has placed on your heart…
Remember Abraham was 75 years old when he first said “yes” to God’s call to move his family and 100 years old when God finally fulfilled His promise of an heir.
When you think God has forgotten you or will never answer your prayer…
Remember how long Sarah must have prayed for a child of her own. She was 99 years old when she finally had Isaac – but he was worth the wait.
When you wonder how you’ll reach that next step in your journey, how you’ll make that dream a reality, how your life will ever be different or better…
Remember Abraham never knew where God was leading him or how he’d get there, he simply said “yes.”
Abraham trusted God and took the steps God asked of him, even when those steps didn’t make sense to his human mind. In the end, because of this faithfulness, Abraham saw God fulfill His promises and Abraham became the patriarch of nations and one of our greatest examples of faith.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:8-12
God’s “possible” often seems “impossible” to our human minds
God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the ways we imagine or request, nor does he always use traditional methods. The dreams He lays on our hearts may feel unobtainable or impossible. We may see too many barriers and restrictions. Yet, God doesn’t see those limitations. He’s at work in broader ways than we can even imagine.
Sarah couldn’t fathom how Abraham would become the father of nations (Gen. 12:1-3, 15:4-5) when she was unable to conceive. How many decades must she have tried to get pregnant and failed? When the three visitors told her she’d have a baby in the next year, she was 99 years old (Gen. 18:9-15). No wonder the idea made her laugh; it must have seemed absurd. Yet, God did bring her a child the next year as promised because she and Abraham trusted His “possible.” (Gen. 21:1-7)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
We don’t reach God’s “possible” when we try to get there on our own
We don’t reach God’s “possible” when we try to get there on our ownGod’s “possible” is only obtainable through His help. It’s beyond our capabilities, our control, and our reach. Only when we rely on His help to get there can we reach God’s “possible.”
The waiting and reliance on God are hard in our culture. We want to there as soon as possible and we like to be self-reliant. From an early age, we’re constantly saying, “I don’t need any help, I can do this on my own.” Yet, that’s not the answer God wants from us.
Sarah learned this lesson the hard way. She tired of waiting and doubted God could provide an heir for Abraham through her, so she tried create her own solution. She gave Abraham her maid and allowed him an heir through her. This was not the solution God had planned. Her impatience didn’t get her to God’s “possible” any faster and only added stress and friction to her family. (Gen. 16:1-16)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
The path to God’s “possible” requires patience, prayer, and perseverance
To reach God’s “possible” requires that we align our dreams with God’s vision for our lives and then rely on Him to lead us there. We must remain in prayer to stay connected with His dreams for our lives and to hear His direction leading us there.
God works in His own time and ways, so we must have patience and trust He’ll get us there. The path to possible may be long and winding, may have ups and downs, may seem dark and unclear at times, yet we must persevere and trust God is working through it all.
For Abraham and Sarah, the journey from when God called them to leave Ur and follow Him until they finally had a son was 25 years. Those were 25 years of unknowns, wondering, and wandering. 25 years filled with prayers and perseverance. Even after Isaac was born and the promise fulfilled, the journey continued – as did the prayers and reliance on God to deliver His “possible.”
Take hope today from Abraham and Sarah’s story to continue trusting God’s possible. Stay rooted in prayer, be patient, and persevere through the twists and turns, ups and downs, and all the unknowns and surprises in your journey.
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:11-12
This post is part of the “Imagine God’s Possible” series. For more information or to read other posts in the series, click here: Dream the Impossible… Imagine God’s Possible
Tiffany Parry says
Patience and perseverance…two things I’m still learning to master, especially together. 🙂 God truly is the author of dreams and there is great hope in knowing that He doesn’t put an expiration date on us…there is always hope that our long (and even short) awaited dreams will come true! Thanks for that reminder today. Visiting from #faithbarista.
Kathryn says
Amen! Those are hard ones for me, too! Knowing God’s in charge and has a bigger plan for me makes it a little bit easier, though… still get impatient some days and have to remind myself that waiting is sometimes part of the plan. Thanks for stopping by!
Cheri says
Maybe you can help me. I have a question I have not be able to find an answer to. I am born raised christian so I know how it all works, so to speak! At nearly 60..I find many questions coming to light. “pray without ceasing” and so many other verses about prayer and faith and healing (by his strips we are healed) etc. Question: people pray for someone that is sick, has an illness..whatever. THey pray faithfully, diligently, trusting in all the verses in the Bible etc. For long periods of time…they pray for this person. They are sure God will answer their prayers because he said he would. They thank him for healing in advance. However, the person dies. Their prayers were not answered. Now I know God has every life planned out. He knows every second of every one’s life. He knew when the people started praying that he was calling this person home and knew he was not going to be answering the prayers of the people for this persons healing. So…why did he just allow them to all pray for so long, trusting in his healing power, when he knew he wasn’t going to heal the person? Why did God let the people all but waste their time praying for something he knew he wasn’t going to answer? The person dies, and the people are going “but we prayed. We trusted. We had faith…for years…and the person still died” Didn’t God hear us? Weren’t our prayers good enough? Then they begin to doubt God..”we did everything he told us to do…but apparently it wasn’t good enough”. Then everyone says, well… the person is in heaven now so all is well”. Okay, fine, yes it is, but still…God knew he wasn’t going to answer the prayers…but the people didn’t know that and prayed anyway…. and the prayers were not answered. How are we supposed to have faith and trust in God and prayers, if he prayers are not answered even tho the people did literally everything God said to do to get that answer to the prayer?
This has bugged me for a while now. I know the Abraham story…but it doesn’t really go with this, as the person dies. GOd can allow anyone to get pregnant anytime he wants to…but when the person dies…that’s it. Any thoughts you might be able to share with me?
Kathryn says
Cheri, these are good questions – and ones I’ve wrestled with also. I don’t know that we’ll ever fully understand God’s ways or why He answers prayers how and when He does. But, I have come to believe that God does answer all prayers that we earnestly and faithfully take to Him – but not always in the specific ways our human minds and hearts suggest the answers. I believe He has other objectives in answering our prayers – like drawing us closer to Him. Unfortunately, we are human and live in a broken world where bad things happen and death is a part of life. God can’t stop all of that, but He can bring us peace that passes understanding in the midst of the human hurt and He can bring us closer to Him, giving us His strength, guidance, love, grace, forgiveness, and peace.
I’ve written a couple of posts about this. Maybe these will be helpful for you:
Unanswered Prayers are Answered {Eventually} //www.prayerandpossibilities.com/unanswered-prayers/
How Long Do I Keep Praying? //www.prayerandpossibilities.com/how-long-do-i-keep-praying/
Laura says
“When you think you’re too old for change, for dreaming new dreams, or ever reaching the ones God has placed on your heart…” So true…I returned to school for my degree at age 50 and graduated last year at 55. It came after a long long time of being stuck in false beliefs about who He is and who I am. Once my thoughts lined up with His truth and I put that truth into practice, my life changed. Great post! Visiting you from the Grace and Truth link up.
Kathryn says
What inspiration! It feels hard to change and dream new dreams as we get older, but I love how God makes it possible. So true that it’s about lining up our dreams with God’s truth and His vision for our lives – then we truly can make it happen. Thank you for sharing this -it really encouraged me this morning for my own journey!
joanneviola says
Kathryn, even when it does not make sense to us, may we be faithful to follow His ways. Sometimes I forget how I see in part but He sees the entire picture. Wonderful post & reminder this morning!
Kathryn says
Love that it doesn’t have to all make sense to us – even though that’s not always so simple to live into.
MaryHill says
It seems like my feelings of missing out because of my age are lies. This post is a reaffirmation of how I feel the Spirit has been guiding me this week.
Kathryn says
I’m glad this encouraged you. I’ve been working to convince myself that we’re never too old to make changes or to follow where God’s leading us.
Tai East says
Amazing post, Kathryn! I find great encouragement and inspiration here! Thank you so much for sharing this! So glad to visit with you! Infinite blessing to you, Love! 🙂
Kathryn says
Thanks, Tai! So glad you stopped by!
Tai East says
You are most welcome! Have a wonderful week, Love! 🙂
Abby Breuklander says
Thanks for sharing, I needed this today!!
Kathryn says
Abby – glad this encouraged you! Dream on!
Mary Geisen says
I love your words because they are very timely for me. We do need patience and perseverance which only come through our trust in God that He knows the way. You know I am in a new chapter and I am waiting but the best part is I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be right now. More is yet to come and I am trusting God that will reveal this in His timing. So glad you shared these words with The Weekend Brew.
Kathryn says
“More is yet to come” – just wrote on these words today 🙂 So grateful for God’s guidance in my life so I can also find peace and contentment in the “now,” knowing He’s doing work to prepare me for “next.” Good luck and many prayers for your next chapter and where God is taking you next!
Karen Del Tatto says
I loved the insights you presented here encouraging us through Sarah & Abraham’s story to persevere in prayer for those things the Lord has laid on our hearts to pursue.
My Pastor’s wife once told me that when we have a desire, that aligns with God’s will, it is indeed He that has placed it there.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Kathryn says
That’s the tricky part, isn’t it? Deciphering which dreams are ours and which ones are from God? But, it’s those that align with His will that ultimately are the ones worth pursuing and persevering for. Thank you for stopping by and sharing!
joni24 says
i have been waiting for 2 years for what job i would have after finishing my associate’s degree. Lately what i have wondering and praying what God’s dreams are for me. I feel like i have lost my dreams since i have been waiting and became an empty nester.
Kathryn says
I can relate! I think we often lose our dreams when we become mired in the wait or settle into our current circumstances. Keep praying and asking for God to rekindle the flames of passion and purpose in your heart and show you His dreams for your life.
Barbie says
I’ve been in a long season of waiting on so many things. And I have believed the lie that I am “too old”, that I can’t be used in great ways. I want so much to believe that God still has extraordinary things for me to do. I need patience and perseverance to stand on the truth and push through my circumstances.
Kathryn says
I fight that lie all the time! “too old,” “too many responsibilities,” “not skilled to do anything different,” etc… I’m trying to push through and take baby steps in faith – in hopes that He’ll make clear the next big step at some point. Don’t believe the lies – we’re never too old to let God use us for His extraordinary work.
Kaylene Yoder says
Kathryn, this spoke volumes to my heart today. I recently struggled with a “wait” from God. I was upset and discouraged for a time, yet the peace that He is supplying in the waiting, is teaching me so much more than what a “yes” would have brought. Thank you for this timely post. I will be featuring you on Grace and Truth this Friday. I think my readers would benefit from reading these words. Blessings!
Kathryn says
Kaylene – thank you for the feature on Grace and Truth! Glad these words spoke to you and encouraged you in your wait.
Carmen says
Amen. Awesome Post!