“After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.' But Abram said, 'Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Genesis 15:1-2 · KJV
God had already spoken to Abram at least three times about his descendants. In Genesis 15, He expanded and clarified His promise by assuring Abram that he would have a biological heir. He spoke to Abram in a vision, encouraging him not to be afraid and promising to be his shield and exceedingly great reward. Yet Abram honestly expressed his deep longing for a son. Although God had blessed him with wealth and many possessions, Abram felt these blessings were incomplete without an heir. This reveals the genuine, open relationship Abram had with God as he waited for the fulfillment of His promise. Instead of hiding his disappointment, Abram brought his concerns before the Lord, trusting Him even while he waited.
After leaving his old life behind, Abram aligned himself with God's will. He turned away from things that were not pleasing to the Lord and chose to walk in obedience. Yet even after faithfully doing what God had asked of him, he still had not seen the promise fulfilled. The years of waiting may have been difficult, but Abram continued to trust God.
This situation is very relatable to our own lives. At times we surrender to God, walk in obedience, and sincerely strive to live according to His will, yet we cannot clearly see what He is doing behind the scenes. The promises we are holding on to may seem distant, and there may be no visible sign of their fulfillment. In those moments it is easy to become discouraged, or to question whether God is still working.
One thing we must always remember is that God does not change.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.”
Numbers 23:19 · KJV
He is our faithful Promise Keeper. His promises may seem delayed, but they are never denied according to His perfect will and timing. Abram openly expressed his frustration and longing to God. Rather than hiding his doubts and questions, he brought them honestly before the Lord in prayer, and God did not reject him for his honesty. Instead, He reassured him of His promise. In the same way, we can bring our questions, concerns, disappointments, and desires to God while continuing to trust in His faithfulness. True faith is not the absence of questions, it is choosing to trust God even when we do not yet see the fulfillment of His promises.
Abram's story reminds us that obedience does not always bring immediate results. There are times when God calls us to walk by faith and wait patiently for the fulfillment of His promises. During those seasons it may seem as though God is silent, but His silence does not mean His absence, nor do His delays mean that He has forgotten His promises. Even when we cannot see what God is doing behind the scenes, He is faithfully working according to His perfect plan and timing. Our responsibility is to continue trusting, obeying, and believing that what God has promised, He is able and faithful to bring to pass.
As Scripture reminds us:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 · KJV
God's plans and blessings are far greater than we can imagine. Therefore, let us wait on Him with faith, confidence, and hope, knowing that He is always faithful to fulfill His purposes in our lives.