Unwavering Faith

Unwavering Faith

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. Romans 4:20

ABRAHAM RECEIVED AN ASTOUNDING PROMISE—he and his offspring would be made into a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3). But years went by, and Abraham began to wonder how the promise would be fulfilled. Would it be through a servant, as inheritance customs often worked? No, God told him it would be through his own offspring (Genesis 15:4). Would it be through his wife’s servant—another customary way of keeping inheritance in the family? No, it would be through Abraham’s own wife, well past her prime, a miracle beyond reasonable expectation (Genesis 16:1-3; 17:15-16). Abraham laughed (Genesis 17:17), and when the promise was just a year from fulfillment, Sarah laughed too (Genesis 18:9-12). It was absurd, after all. Who would believe it? But Abraham and Sarah received into their hearts what God had spoken, and he followed through by giving them a son.

Later biblical testimonies call this winding, up-and-down journey of faith “not wavering.” From our standpoint, Abraham and Sarah seemed to waver quite a bit. At one point, they had so given up their expectations that they laughed at the idea that they might be fulfilled. But God judges human faith not by the detours it took during the journey but by where it ended up. Did it last? That’s unwavering faith. It persists no matter how much it is assaulted by visible evidence and may even grow stronger the more unlikely fulfillment seems. God’s assessment of faith like that is that it is as solid and pure as gold that has been tried and purged by fire.

If you endure in faith, you will run into similar dynamics at times. Not every faith experience is so demanding, but some are. At times, you may grow discouraged by how weak and faltering your faith seems to be. Never mind your own assessment; God is more focused on where your faith arrives than where it travels in the middle chapters of your story. He is purifying something precious, drawing you closer in the meantime, and anticipating a joyful end. Anticipate it with him, and your faith will be called unwavering.

It is when the answer to prayer does not come . . . that the trial of faith, more precious than gold, takes place.