Genesis 16-18:1-5; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalms 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

My son is 16 months old and working on becoming independent. When he wants something, instead of waiting for me to give it to him, he tries to figure out a solution to obtain said item–usually snacks but sometimes toys–all by himself. I’ve watched him throw many a bag of Gerber biscuits forcefully onto the floor, hoping to break the top open, and send the delicious morsels spilling out. Usually when I see him start to do this, I smile, put down whatever I am doing, and make my way over to where he’s standing in the pantry or kitchen. I’ll ask for the bag, and after he hands it to me, he’ll stomp his little feet back and forth, and make an adorable, high-pitched “mehhhhhhhhhhh” while he impatiently waits for me to unzip the pouch and hand him a biscuit. Once in hand, he runs away, smiling and giggling while holding his delight.

Sarai was “well past” her childbearing years when she came up with a plan–she called her husband to her and said to him, “Look, you want kids, the Lord promised you kids, I haven’t been able to have any kids. Instead, have a baby with my slave. That is the only possible way we can have a family and you can have an heir.” Abram agreed to the creative solution presented, and took Sarai’s slave to be his wife and bear a child for them. Hagar became pregnant, and Sarai’s plan immediately went off the rails.

I can’t help but shake my head at Abram and Sarai–I imagine looking down at them like I would my son as he’s waiting for his biscuit. Clearly I’m working on giving him exactly what he wants, but rather than wait for me to hand it to him, he stomps and cries and tries to figure out how he can get it for himself. On one hand I would love to say that, as adults, we see this behavior and know that we all grow out of it…but do we actually, or do we just react in a way more acceptable to society? How often do we metaphorically act like toddlers–stomping around, impatiently trying to figure out our own solution to what we want–right in front of our heavenly Father?

The Lord promised Abram a child, and after his wife had not provided one, they started scheming up a solution. Sarai thought she had the answer, but we know it wasn’t what the Lord intended. It may have seemingly worked in the short term, but quickly fell apart in practice. There was resentment, hostility, mistreatment–Hagar chose to run away (a slave in Biblical times on her own!) rather than stay and endure what Sarai was putting her through. But even though this was not what the Lord had intended, He still provided for Hagar and her child. She returned, gave birth to Ishmael, and for 13 years had provided Abram with his only child.

But the Lord’s promises are not made in vain! He said He would give Abram a child, and after the Lord establishes a new covenant with Abram and changes his and Sarai’s names to Abraham and Sarah, the Lord once again tells Abraham that he will have a child. At this point, Sarah is 90 and Abraham is 100! It must have seemed even more impossible than ever before. We know what was to come–Sarah would indeed give birth to a son, and they would name him Issac.

What promises has the Lord made in your life that have yet to be fulfilled? Maybe you’ve felt a deep calling into a particular ministry, to be involved in your community in a specific way, or even to embrace a calling into motherhood. Maybe you had never thought about something and soddenly the Lord was speaking to you about it–maybe you’ve been dreaming and when you prayed about it, you felt the Lord say yes. If the Lord has promised it to you, can you wait patiently on his timing? Can you ask him for His solution and way forward, rather than crafting your own? Can you trust that His timing and methods are perfect, and anything less is our striving and trying to control the situation?

I know the Lord understands our fervor and desire to live out his promises, but in the end His path is always the best and most fulfilling. We have to set aside our timelines and agendas to place control entirely in His hands. We have to accept that if He promised it, He will provide it.

Today I’d encourage you to pray about the promises the Lord has placed on your life. Turn over the timelines to Him. And when you start feeling like you know what the next step is, fix your heart solely on Him and ask if it’s time to move or time to wait. I promise you, Father God will answer. It’s our job to accept the answer, trust, and be content in the process of waiting. Maybe like Sarah we will be waiting a long time–but we can be assured that the perfect plan is the one thought of, and enacted by, our God who loves and cares for us more deeply than we will ever know.