Earlier, Sarah and Abraham had lacked trust in God’s plan. Since Sarah had not become pregnant, she had her maid act as a surrogate for her. Ishmael was born as a result of that decision. Now, they were experiencing the consequences. Genesis 21: 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making …
Struggling to trust God is an experience you may have encountered. Throughout the Bible, God provides examples of individuals who grappled with trusting Him, including Abraham. This does not diminish their struggles but illustrates how much we depend on God’s strength to trust Him. In many ways, life is a test, and when we fail, it …
Hanging on when God says to let go often represents a significant part of our spiritual journey. Before returning to school to become a pastor, I spent twelve years in a completely different profession. To follow the direction the Lord was leading me, my wife and I had to let go of our jobs and …
Faith overcomes fear, which is always God’s desire for His children as we journey through life. We often come to a Y on the road of life and must choose between trusting God or letting our fears control us. The Lord told the prophet Elijah to go to Zarephath, where He instructed a widow to …
Have you ever contemplated the unseen hand of God in your life? There are times when the hand of God is at work in our lives, but it may not be evident at the time. The hand of God was apparent when a friend who was a truck driver met another truck driver at a …
The guiding God is essential in a world with many paths to choose. But which is the right one? As we follow the Lord, He knows best how to guide our lives. Not long after Elijah became a prophet, he confronted Ahab, the King of Israel, who worshiped the false god Baal. He told him …
You lose your job. You’re failing a class. You have a health problem. You have money problems. You find yourself without friends. You’re stripped of someone you love. In stormy seasons like these, it can be hard to maintain hope. It is not unusual for any of us in a crisis or difficult time …
Very few people in history saw as many miracles as the Hebrews who were freed from Egyptian slavery by the hand of God. The ten plagues that the Lord sent on Egypt as well as the parting of the Red Sea should have been faith building and life changing. Repeatedly the Lord demonstrated that He …
The year is 605 B.C. and Babylon has begun its domination of Jerusalem and Judah. God is using Nebuchadnezzar as a tool of judgment. (Jer. 27:6) God’s people had rebelled and He was giving them a big timeout. Daniel, who was part of the royal court, was deported to Babylon. There he was trained to …