I was on a bicycle trail this summer and part of the trail was five miles downhill which was great until we had to go back up. In many ways following the Lord is easy when all is going well, but what happens when the road becomes difficult? Abraham experienced a difficult test when the Lord asked him to sacrifice his son. He was following God when it is difficult.
Genesis 22:1Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.[1]
The Difficult Road
As we follow God there are difficult roads which cause us to dig down deep in a spiritual sense. Hard times causes us to depend on the Lord more than ever before. The hard road leads us to spend more time in His Word and prayer. The hard times may even lead us question God. We may ask the Lord, “Why is this happening to me?”
You may be on this hard road right now. Cry out to the Lord. When we question Him, He does not get angry with us but is very patient. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [2]
Abraham is our model for Difficult Times
The Scriptures doesn’t mention what was going through Abraham’s mind as he traveled to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son. It had to be a difficult journey for Abraham, but he was following God when it was difficult.
His decision to follow the Lord’s direction probably would have been ridiculed by others. Abraham discarded his own desires and pursued wat God wanted. Only with God’s help can we venture down that path. Philippians 4:13“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.” [3]
Is the Lord calling you to take the difficult road that most people would not travel? People who don’t know Jesus will tell us to do what feels good. James 4:10 gives us insight into what God wants for us. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. [4]
The difficult road is often the one the Lord calls us to walk on because He knows in His infinite wisdom that is what is best for us. 2 Corinthians 5:7“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”[5]
When Abraham journeyed to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son, he had to walk by faith. It was a journey into the unknown guided by God. As we begin to learn to walk by faith, it strengthens our faith and we become a different person on the other side. We become transformed, which is the Lord’s desire for all.
To hear about following God when it is difficult, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-abraham
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Co 5:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.