I have always been a rule follower. I never skipped school. I always did my homework. I took my library books back on time. If someone said, “Do it this way,” guess what? I did it that way. I didn’t make waves. I liked to keep the status quo. But I’ve had a revelation as of late.
Faith doesn’t settle for the status quo.
One of the guests was the Lord, and he said, “I’ll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.” Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent. Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children. So she laughed and said to herself, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?” (Genesis 18:10-12)
The status quo here is that Sarah was almost 100 years old when she heard this promise that she would have a baby. Earth’s perspective said, “Hey girl, you are WAY too old to have a baby. And not only that, but even when you were young enough, you couldn’t have a baby. See how funny that promise is? It ain’t never gonna happen. You better laugh at that.”
But heaven had a different perspective. Heaven was saying, “Nothing is impossible with God. If He said it, He will do it. He is faithful.”
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. (Hebrews 11:11)
Faith doesn’t settle for the status quo. Sarah didn’t settle for the status quo.
These two sections of scripture are the same story. They are the story of the promise to Sarah. But it’s really two different stories. The first is the one of Sarah before she considered and the second is the one of Sarah after she considered.
Faith makes all the difference.
One translation of that verse says, “Sarah received strength to conceive seed.” I like that. She was strengthened to receive the promise.
That word because can mean when. Sarah was strengthened to receive the promise WHEN she considered Him faithful.
Sarah didn’t settle for the status quo when she considered His faithfulness.
Maybe the status quo for you is cancer? Status quo says it kills. Maybe it’s not being able to have children. Did the doctor say it’s impossible? Maybe the status quo is you want to go on a mission trip and just don’t see how to pay for it. And you get discouraged and answer that with, “Maybe next time. Guess I can’t go.”
Faith doesn’t settle for the status quo. Faith doesn’t stop until it sees the promise. What does the Word say? What did He say? If He said it, He will do it!!!!
Feeling weak today? Feeling like your promise is never going to come to pass? Are you getting tired? Consider Him.
Think about Him. Think about what He’s done for you in the past. Think of His faithfulness. Go over all the accounts in the Word about His faithfulness. About when He made a promise and when He fulfilled it.
It will build your faith. It will strengthen you to stand. You will receive strength to receive your promise too. Consider Him. He Is Faithful!
